With all the attention to the upcoming solar eclipse, it’s a safe bet that humans won’t be caught off-guard by the daytime darkening of the sun But what about animals?

Woodland critters without internet access may well have no idea what’s going on when the moon’s shadow moves over the sun on the afternoon of April 8, naturalists say. Even in Southwest Florida, where it’ll be only a little more than half obscured (52% to be precise), the day may confuse wildlife.

Here’s what we may be able to expect from our animal neighbors, starting at about 2:15 p.m.

Things may get quiet

“As it’s getting darker some animals may stop singing like the songbirds,” said Joanna Fitzgerald, director of the Conservancy of Southwest Florida’s von Arx Wildlife Hospital in Naples, “because it’s their instinct to be quiet in the dark if you’re a daytime animal.”

“So overall maybe the neighborhood will get a little bit quieter when the eclipse is occurring.”

More:When is the solar eclipse in Fort Myers, Lee County? Search by ZIP code

Animals may be on the move as the eclipse darkens

Fitzgerald said some may decide it’s time to return to their nests, “but nothing too drastic and luckily since it’s gradual, if they’re in the middle of something important like diving for fish, once they notice it’s starting to get darker, they may take a spot to go roost.”

Other animals who become active after dark may begin their rounds, said Fort Myers’ Calusa Nature Center Naturalist Maxx Chadwick. “These changes may cause unexpected behaviors such as reptiles beginning to search for a source of heat, birds returning to their nests, or rats showing an increase in night-time activities such as foraging,” he wrote in an email.

Creatures who aren’t eclipse veterans may be alarmed

Consider the first-timers, Chadwick said.

“These animals likely have not experienced an eclipse before, let alone have the mental capacity to comprehend something like it.

“Just as it is with many animals experiencing a thunderstorm for the first time (they often are quite scared of the loud noises and flashing lights), we could expect an eclipse to potentially confuse animals and throw off their day-to-day activities.”

More:When is the solar eclipse in Naples, Collier County? Search by ZIP code

Because Southwest Florida isn’t in what’s called the path of totality — the swath that becomes completely dark — the reactions likely won’t be as dramatic, Chadwick notes, “but that is not to say that we will not notice any effects.” Even slight environmental changes can cause changes in the way animals feel and behave, he said.

Citizen scientists may have a role to play: “Perhaps during this eclipse we can encourage people not only to check out the eclipse with their eclipse glasses, but to also try to pay attention to any wildlife around you and see if they begin to show any signs of behavioral changes,” he said.

That’s what the Naples Zoo will be doing, says director of animal programs, LeeAnn Rottman.

“We will be monitoring our animals for signs of stress or unusual behaviors throughout the event,” Rottman said.