CAN ANIMALS PREDICT WHEN BAD WEATHER IS COMING

Job 36:33

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The noise thereof sheweth concerning it, the cattle also concerning the vapour.

Job 37:8-9

⁷ He sealeth up the hand of every man; that all men may know his work.

⁸ Then the beasts go into dens, and remain in their places.

⁹ Out of the south cometh the whirlwind: and cold out of the north.

Can Animals Predict when Bad Weather Is Coming?

Evidence suggests that animals can predict when bad weather is coming. There are numerous examples of animals changing their behavior, hiding, or otherwise showing signs that they know when unpleasant weather is about to come through. This ability largely comes from an innate instinct in animals. Of course, whether the groundhog seeing his shadow can really foretell more Winter may not be quite as true, however.

Animals change their behavior for many reasons, and bad weather is one of them.  No one is sure as to how they know, but they do. Two things that may clue animals is a lowering of barometric pressure and a rise in humidity. Even humans notice these slight changes. Another thing animals notice is vibrations in the ground from thunderstorms, earthquakes, or tsunamis. Animals hear and see better than us, so they may get clues to changing weather in that way.

How we know Animals Predict Bad Weather

Speaking of tsunamis, when a devastating tsunami hit Southern Asia, the number of animals lost was very low. It’s surprising because the flood waters reached two miles inland. It is theorized that the animals either heard the wave coming or felt the vibrations in the ground.

While we can't ask the animals if they knew the tsunami was coming or if they can predict other bad weather, there are some examples of animal behavior that clearly show that animals can predict when bad weather is coming:

• Dogs and cats act more frisky or nervous.
• Cats tend to clean behind their ears before a storm.
• Frogs will croak louder and for a longer time.
• Bees and butterflies seem to disappear.
• Dolphins come into bays to find shelter.
• Seagulls stop flying and find shelter on the coast.
• Birds fly lower to the ground and gather on tree limbs or power lines.
• Ants build up their mounds to have steep sides.
• Spiders leave their webs.
• Cows lay down in the field to have a dry spot to lie in.
• Humans have joint pain or stuffy noses.

Weather Lore

People have always tried to predict the weather, not only to know when to water crops, but to protect themselves and their possessions. Since humans noticed that the animals’ behavior changes before a storm, there is much weather lore pertaining to animals. A lot of the folk lore about weather says that animals can predict bad weather. Here are some examples with the reasons why they are often true:

• “If birds fly low, expect rain and a blow.” A drop in air pressure causes discomfort in bird’s ears.
• “If the rooster crows on going to bed, you may rise with a watery head.”  Roosters crow late in the day before bad weather is approaching.
• “When pigs carry sticks, the clouds will play tricks. When they lie in the mud, no fears of a flood.” Pigs squeal more and gather sticks to make a nest before a storm hits.