In just a few days, much of the United States will experience a solar eclipse. And while humans have been preparing for this long-awaited historical event for weeks, months and even years, its worth noting that other natural life will experience the eclipse in its own way.
Because wild animals don’t have clocks and calendars, they rely on the sun to serve as both an indicator of time and compass. The darkening sky and lowering of temperatures that happen during a solar eclipse can cause wildlife to shift their behaviors to nighttime routines, according to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
Birds are among the most noticeable animals affected by solar eclipses. During studies conducted during the 2017 solar eclipse, scientists recorded nighthawks flying about during totality, barred owls calling back and forth and confused black vultures coming in to roost, only to fly off a few minutes later once the sun returned.
For centuries, scientists have observed how wild animals react to solar eclipses, dating back to the 13th century.
According to National Geographic, one of the first accounts of wild animals reacting to a solar eclipse was in 1239 by Italian monk Ristoro d’Arezzo.
“All the animals and birds were terrified; and the wild beasts could easily be caught,” d’Arezzo wrote.
About 300 years later, in 1560, astronomer Christoph Clavius noted how “birds fell down from the sky to the ground in terror of such horrid darkness” during a solar eclipse, according to National Geographic.
Much more recently, in 2001, eclipse-chaser Tora Greve, who was studying an eclipse in Zambia, found that when the sun disappeared behind the moon’s shadow, frogs began making sounds and raptors stopped circling overhead, according to National Geographic.
How will house pets react to the eclipse?
It’s unlikely that domesticated house pets like cats and dogs will act out during the solar eclipse on Monday, but it’s possible that they may become confused or slightly disoriented during the change of light, especially if they are outside.
To ensure optimal safety, it’s best to leave pets indoors during the eclipse.
Help record how wild life reacts to the eclipse near you
One way scientists are continuing to learn about how wild life reacts to eclipses is with citizen science projects through applications like iNaturalist and Eclipse Soundscapes.
A smartphone app, iNaturalist allows everyday folks to input information, like photos, videos and audio, of what they witness during the eclipse. Creating an iNaturalist account is free.
Eclipse Soundscape is operated by NASA and allowed people to upload photos, videos and audio of crickets during solar eclipses.
Greta Cross is the trending topics reporter for the Springfield News-Leader. Follow her on X and Instagram @gretacrossphoto. Story idea? Email her at[email protected].