Bill Murray Learned 'Groundhog Day' Woodchuck Was Wild After It Bit Him Twice During Filming

Bill Murray Learned 'Groundhog Day' Woodchuck Was Wild After It Bit Him Twice During Filming

Murray had to be treated with a rabies shot after the incidentsBill Murray in Groundhog Day, 1993 Columbia Pictures/Courtesy Everett CollectionNEED TO KNOWBill Murray says the groundhog used on set of the 1993 movie Groundhog Day was actually a wild animal, not a trained oneIn a 2025 episode of Hot Ones, Murray explained that the animal bit him — twice — requiring him to get a rabies shotThe actor said he still has a scar from the incidentBill M…

Did Bill Murray Really Get Bitten by the Groundhog From ‘Groundhog Day’?

When Bill Murray appeared on Hot Ones in 2025 to promote his latest movie, Riff Raff, host Sean Evans asked him if it was true that he’d actually been bitten by the groundhog he worked with in the 1993 film Groundhog Day. Murray proceeded to show the host a scar on his middle finger that he evidently received from his unruly co-star. “I’m not flipping you off,” he assured Evans, “but right there, that…nodule there, that’s from the groundhog.” Mu…

Bill Murray Had No Idea The Groundhog In His Hit Movie Was Wild - Until It Bit Him

For generations, Groundhog Day has felt as comforting and familiar as the holiday it celebrates. The 1993 comedy became a cultural staple, replayed year after year as audiences revisit its wit, warmth, and quietly profound message about time and change. Yet behind the film’s cozy charm lies a surprising behind-the-scenes story that even longtime fans may not know. According to reporting from People, Groundhog Day was far less predictable once th…