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Can animals predict the weather? Do squirrels know when a storm is coming? Do cows lie down before rain? Can ladybugs predict how cold the weather will be? Observe animals, and you’ll see that they, too, have their own ways of predicting the weather. Enjoy fun folklore about animal forecasters!
Can Cows Forecast Weather?
Perhaps the greatest amount of weather folklore surrounds cows.
One saying is “When cattle lie down in the pasture, it indicates rain is on the way.” Cows, like many animals, are affected by changes in air pressure. They become restless when stormy weather approaches and may lie down in a dry spot. (Of course, cows also lie down for a number of other reasons!)
If a cow stands with its tail to the west, the weather is said to be fair. If a cow grazes with its tail to the east, the weather is likely to turn sour.
There is some truth here. Animals graze with their tail toward the wind so that if a predator sneaks up behind them, the wind will help catch the scent of the predator and prevent an attack.
Many animals are affected by changes in air pressure—including us humans! Here are some more proverbs to ponder:
Expect rain when dogs eat grass, oxen sniff the air, and swine are restless.
If the bull leads the cows to pasture, expect rain; if the cows precede the bull, the weather will be uncertain.
When hungry bites the thirsty flea, rain and clouds you sure shall see.
When horses and cattle stretch out their necks and sniff the air, it will rain.
Frogs Croak Loudly When It’s About to Rain
Ever heard that “frogs croak loudly when it’s about to rain”? It’s true! Why? Frogs croak loudly to mate, and they are more successful following a good rain. This is because the eggs are laid in bodies of water (freshwater). The male frogs will start croaking with more gusto before a rain.
Think of it as setting the mood for the ladies. And for humans, it is a cue to grab your umbrella!
Sheep Huddle Up Before Rain or Snow
As with cows, sheep are the subject of much forecasting folklore. One proverb states, ”When sheep turn into the wind, expect rain.”
Another says, “If sheep ascend hills and scatter, expect clear weather.”
Conversely, if sheep huddle up in a tight group, expect rain or snow. Frankly, if you had warm and woolly friends, wouldn’t you huddle up, too?
Spiders, Caterpillars, and Ladybugs Predict Cold Weather
Spider webs in your basement or house says cold weather is coming and time to seek shelter! (Don’t kill basement spiders if they’re staying to themselves; they are helpful and eat other pests!)
Ladybugs can also help predict cold weather. If you spot these spotted bugs, they’re also seeking shelter. There’s a chance that winter is on its way!
Woolly bear caterpillars are famous for being winter weather predictors: The more brown they have on their bodies, the milder winter will be. Read more about woolly bears!
Crickets Tell the Temperature
We all know the evening sound of a cricket. Did you know the number of cricket chirps report the temperature? No kidding! Just count the number of times a cricket chirps in 14 seconds and add 40 to that number. The total is the temperature in Fahrenheit. Take a few measurements and then use the average to determine the temperature. See more about cricket temperature.
When Cats Sneeze, Rain’s On Its Way
We all know that our feline friends seem to have extra-sensory abilities (at least, the cats think so). But is there any truth to this? A book commissioned by the American War Department, “Weather Proverbs,” in 1883, stated that cats had many ways to predict weather. Here are two age-old proverbs:
When cats purr and wash, rain’s on the way.
Also: When cats sneeze, it’s a sign of rain.
We find that our cats sneeze for a number of reasons. But it certainly could be true. Just don’t expect your cat to let you in on the mystery!
When Birds Fly Low, Bad Weather’s Coming
Birds may be the best weather predictors of them all. Birds tend to fly low when a storm is coming and higher in good weather, due to changes in air pressure.
In fact, birds seem to know when to evacuate an area before storms and bad weather arrive. Studies hypothesize that the birds hear infrasound (a low-frequency noise) coming from an approaching storm system before it’s visible. This capability also helps birds’ determine migration patterns because they can identify weather patterns in advance.
Catherine Boeckmann loves nature, stargazing, and gardening so it’s not surprising that she and The Old Farmer’s Almanac found each other. She leads digital content for the Almanac website, and is also a certified master gardener in the state of Indiana. Read More from Catherine Boeckmann
I lived in Santa Cruz, CA, and noticed an earthquake was about to occur when gofers popped up in clusters. Before the big quake in California years ago, my yard was filled with gofer emergence. Then I started watching, and every time there was an earthquake, large or small, the gofers would react.
A cyclone was headed to my area since friday 3rd May 2024 but changed course slightly. Yesterday,(4th May) at the park the bats were clicking loudly, continously at 13.10 which was rather odd as they are nocturnal. I took a video of this once in a life time concert as i felt thier joy to surving the storm.
We had horses and we always knew how cold the upcoming winter would be, or if winter was going to arrive early by how long and how soon in the fall their coat would grow. The earlier the winter coat would grow meant an early winter. The thicker the coat the colder the upcoming winter would be. The reverse was true at the end of winter. The earlier they would shed their winter coat, the sooner spring was on its way.