Can Animals Predict the Weather?

Humans have looked to the animal kingdom for centuries in an attempt to predict when a bad storm may be close at hand. If a coming winter will be harsh or if an earthquake is eminent. But can animals really predict the weather?

Before Doppler radar was the rage and the science of predicting the weather moved into the 20^th century, farmers and ranchers looked to their animals and wildlife for signs of a coming storm, severe winter or changes in the weather. Folklore claiming animals predict the weather have been passed down generation to generation. Farmers paid attention to how farm animals reacted prior to a storm. Hunters observed heavier coats on bears and beavers indicating a harsh winter was ahead. Seaman watched the flight of sea birds for confirmation of heavy seas due to an approaching rain or wind storm still out at sea.

Many of the old sayings using animals to predict the weather are folklore, but not all. It's still unknown how animals can predict the weather, but limited research and acute observations have verified the animal kingdom's ability to notice changes before we do. Through their highly developed sense of hearing, smell and awareness of changes in atmospheric conditions, animals do appear to have a 6^th sense that does allow them to predict certain weather conditions, earthquakes and tsunamis.

What would a summer evening be without the nightly courtship of crickets chirping for a mate. Predicting the air temperature by counting the chirps of a cricket are true. Count the number of chirps of a cricket for 14 seconds, then add 40. You will get surprisingly close to the actual air temperature in Fahrenheit degrees. Want it in Celsius, count number of chirps for 25 seconds, divide by 3 and add 4.

The animals and birds survived the tsunami in Thailand in 2004 by fleeing to the hills before disaster hit the beach. Few dead animals were found after the tsunami induced waves retreated back into the ocean. Elephants who were giving tourist rides along the beach, headed inland for no apparent reason. The tourist and elephant handlers are alive today because the elephant's instincts told them to move to higher ground. Natives who witnessed elephants racing toward the hills, followed because of their frantic charge away from the sea. Those people survived the onslaught of water from the tsunami. We don't understand if the animals running from the tsunami heard the waves coming, if they could smell danger or feel a change in the earth or wind. What is known, the animal's flight instinct kept them safe while thousands of people perished. Animals predicting the weather.

It's known animals are more attuned to the real world. They see, smell and hear better than we do. Animals can feel what's called P-waves in the air that are present before an earthquake. P-waves are the fastest moving waves before an earthquake hits. Your cat or dog may point their nose into the wind, sniffing wildly before a rain or storm appears on the horizon. Some people can also smell an approaching storm, but your pet's nose will know before you of an approaching storm. If tornado watches or warnings are posted in your area, don't ignore your furry friend's anxiety. They may know something you don't. Take heed of any usual behavior. I once had a dog who knew a half hour before a severe thunderstorm or nasty wind storm was about to hit. He would hide in the bathroom behind the stool. He was never wrong.

If you drive by a herd of cattle and see them lying in the grass, rainy weather is just miles away. Cows, like dogs, smell a coming rain. They lie down in the grass before it gets wet so they have a dry spot. Cats groom more when there's increased static electricity in the air. Their fur loses electrons when relative humidity is low and they become "charged". Grooming wets the hair and the static electricity goes away. Crickets stop their chirping before a heavy rainstorm or bad storm enters their area. As long as the crickets continue their song, the garden variety rain will remain just that. Horses have been reported racing around before windy conditions or severe weather. Fish tend to eat more. Cows and other grazing animals chomp on grass with their back turned into the wind. This allows them advanced warning of predators lurking nearby because their scent will be carried in the wind.

Animals are amazing creatures. It does appear they have a 6^th sense when it comes to predicting weather, earthquakes and tsunamis. Not an exact science, yet intriguing enough to not discount the folklore of our ancestors. Their lives were dependent upon paying attention to their surroundings. Noticing how wildlife and their farm animals reacted before certain events could have given them advance notice of impeding natural events. An animal's senses are more acute than ours. Earthquakes begin with little shakes in the earth. Electromagnet and barometric pressure will change before a storm and it's believed cats can feel these changes. Veterinarians, meteorologists and animal behaviorists have long suspected the ability of animals to predict weather and natural phenomenon. There is no specific scientific proof of a 6^th sense animals may have to predict the weather, but one needs only to observe farm animals, wildlife, dogs and cats for their own verification. It's possible animals can predict the weather. Science is still trying to figure out how they know. The next time your weatherman predicts a storm in your area, watch your cat or dog and see what they may have to say about it.

Lee Gordon, Animals' Sixth Sense Predicts Bad Weather, Zootoo PetNews

Animals and Earthquake Prediction, USGS

Cricket thermometer, Snopes.com