Niagara Falls, N.Y. (WBEN) - What will the weather be like this winter? Strkyer the Harbor Seal at Aquarium of Niagara predicts it will be a "frigid" winter.
Third graders from Harry F. Abate Elementary school was joined by Niagara Falls Mayor Robert Restaino on Friday to cheer him on as he made his prediction for a fifth year in-a-row. So far, he has been correct every time.
Strykers trainer presents Stryker with a ball labeled "cold" and another labeled "frigid." Both are thrown into the pool, and whichever one he retrieves is his official prediction for the year.
"It's fun to be able to do things like this that help us to highlight our staff and our trainers, but also the stories of our animals. Like many of the individuals we have here at the Aquarium, striker is rescued, non releasable harbor seal, and it's important for us to be able to share his story with the people that are here that join us at the aquarium," stated Aquarium of Niagara's President and CEO Chad Fifer.
Niagara Falls Mayor Robert Restaino was also at the aquarium and awarded striker two keys to the city - One made from frozen fish, and the other to be put on display.
"Stryker has been a great partner throughout the last couple of winters. Every time Stryker says it's going to be cold, the Department of Public Works gets happy because we're having a little less trouble in the winter. He's given us a challenge, and I know that our men and women in the Parks and Public Works Department will meet the challenge, and we give him a key because we're proud of him," stated Restaino.
President and Chief Operating Officer of NOCO, Mike Casciano says they partnered with the aquarium for this event because it's a great opportunity to remind residents about their energy consumption during winter months.
"We want to do our part, just like the aquarium is doing their part to save our customers energy and just have an awareness around energy and savings. You know, it's when you get to this time of year, you start thinking about those things that contribute to that, whether it's home insulation, your roofing, your windows, but more importantly, just having an efficient kind of furnace," stated Casciano.