(CNN) – It was an incident that went viral last Groundhog Day, a groundhog bit a small-town Wisconsin mayor during a ceremony.

Now that Wisconsin town is considering changing future Groundhog Day ceremonies.

“It did raise some concerns over not only just a public safety standpoint, but really the treatment of the actual groundhog,” said Neal Stechshulte.

Director of tourism and economic development Neal Stechschulte says this February second, an actual groundhog may not be available, “There’s not a contract in place at this point.”

New mayor Paul Esser told us over the summer he’d be happy to avoid a live “jimmy” altogether, “We would have something that would be a groundhog. He might be a ceremonial groundhog. You know, might be in the form of not a live animal but something that is a replica of an animal.”

The city of Sun Prairie tells me absolutely there will be a “jimmy”. But “jimmy” this year might be five foot tall, a little more like bucky badger, sassy cow, maybe a mascot. I’m getting at it might not be a real-live critter.”

“Jimmy” is a hot topic brewing at Beans and Cream, where mom Teresa Bauman is steaming over “jimmy’s” fate, “Because of the long-held tradition and we took our kids and we’ve always loved it. But I guess I have to think that it might just be a transition year.”

Former Sun Prairie museum curator Peter Kline has a simple solution to the real groundhog drama of sun prairie, a costume kept in the shadow.

“It’s life size and you have three people. A lot of people came over just to take their pictures.”

Kline says this “jimmy” is one that all residents will love.

Copyright CNN 2015