If People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals gets its way, Groundhog Day this year would look very different.

Groundhog Day tradition has it that on Feb. 2 each year, Punxsutawney Phil, a groundhog given the famous Pennsylvania monicker, is able to predict whether there will be an early spring or whether winter will continue for another six weeks. 

PETA, the animal advocacy group, sent a letter this week to Punxsutawney Groundhog Club President Tom Dunkel offering to send a large gold coin to be used in place of a groundhog.

“Groundhogs can’t make heads or tails of the weather forecast and shouldn’t be jostled around by large members of a different species and thrust in front of noisy crowds for a photo op,” PETA President Ingrid Newkirk said. “PETA is urging the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club to send Phil to a reputable sanctuary that will give him the care he needs and not to treat him as a wildlife prop.”

PETA also suggested that the holiday be renamed to rid any association with the groundhog and “demonstrate respect for Phil.” It offered the idea of calling the day “Weather There’ll Be More Winter Day.”

“We hope this will be the year you make heads or tails of why retiring Phil would demonstrate respect and compassion and set a wonderful example for how best to move beyond ‘Groundhog’ Day,” the letter also stated.

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Last January, Punxsutawney Phil was inducted into the Punxsutawney Weather Discovery Center Hall of Fame as its final honoree.

PETA’s offer to send a coin is not its first attempt to replace the groundhog. The animal advocacy group previously suggested a human instead of a groundhog.