Am I Seriously the Only Person in the Treasure Valley that Didn’t Know This About Zoo Boise?

I know that I lack a lot of common sense, but this blew my mind on Thursday.

For my first six Groundhog's Days in the Treasure Valley, I sat with my back to the KTVB morning news.  I knew that Zoo Boise had a prairie dog named "Boise Bill" that they swore by instead of Mr. Punxsutawney Phil on the other side of the country.  I never saw what he looked like or any of Larry Gebert's live cut-ins from the zoo because my back to the TV.

This is the first Groundhog Day that I wasn't up at stupid o'clock in the morning so I was so excited to see Boise Bill for the first time.  Then I look at my TV and see THIS:

Boise Bill is a stuffed animal?! Has he ALWAYS been a stuffed animal?! Am I the only one who didn't know?!

TELL ME! It's driving me crazy!