Beyond The Forecast: Winter Curiosity
Do fuzzy caterpillars, bushy squirrel tails, and many acorns mean a harsh winter?
Sometimes people look at their surrounding environments and see how nature is preparing for winter. The thinking is maybe the animals may know something we do not. Animals can sometimes sense a change in the weather. They can be especially perceptive to changes in air pressure. Since air pressure can decrease rapidly before a front passage or before a storm hits, animals will react to this pressure change by acting unusual and making noise. If the animals are acting funny then it is a good idea to check out the sky and the weather.
Wild animals are sensitive to the changes of seasons because it has a direct impact on their survival. Animals certainly are starting their preparations as many migrations south are already well underway. While the ones who are chosing to stay...certainly know what lays ahead and have their own tricks to surviving the winter cold.
There are many myths and folklore about some animal's behavior before winter...and how you can forecast the winter by their behavior. One being the fuzzy catepillar. Currently, There's no evidence that the color or length of their "fuzz"...or the width of any stripes, indicates the severity of winter..
Here are a few more signs to look for while exploring outside. Have you seen any of these?! None of these are proven to mean a harsh winter is ahead...but sometimes when it comes to the weather... the Almanac shows we may have something to learn from the animals around us after all!
20 Signs of Hard Winter- The Farmer's Almanac
Thicker than normal corn husks
Woodpeckers sharing a tree
Early arrival of the Snowy owl
Early departure of geese and ducks
Early migration of the Monarch butterfly
Thick hair on the nape (back) of the cow's neck
Heavy and numerous fogs during August
Raccoons with thick tails and bright bands
Mice eating ravenously into the home
Early arrival of crickets on the hearth
Spiders spinning larger than usual webs and entering the house in great numbers
Pigs gathering sticks
Insects marching a bee line rather than meandering
Early seclusion of bees within the hive
Unusual abundance of acorns
Muskrats burrowing holes high on the river hank
"See how high the hornet's nest, 'twill tell how high the snow will rest"
Narrow orange band in the middle of the Woollybear caterpillar warns of heavy snow; fat
and fuzzy caterpillars presage bitter cold
The squirrel gathers nuts early to fortify against a hard winter
Frequent halos or rings around sun or moon forecast numerous snow falls.
