Animals and Earthquakes
Whether or not animals can predict earthquakes has been widely debated for hundreds of years. In fact, as far back as 373 B.C. villagers reported that hundreds of animals deserted the Greek town of Helice a few days before an earthquake destroyed it.
There are other interesting phenomena that scientists have noted. For example, before an earthquake, dogs may begin barking or howling for no reason; chickens might stop laying eggs; bees may leave their hive in a panic and some pets may go into hiding.
Snakes and fishes are common animals in reports which deal with strange animal behavior before an earthquake. Both animals have particular sense organs: snakes can perceive vibrations and infrared radiation, and fishes perceive electric fields. These senses may help them detect changes in the environment before an earthquake strikes, like variations in the local electromagnetic field.
In Asia 2004, many animals that were accustomed to being on the beach in the early morning refused to go there the morning of the big tsunami. In Thailand, a herd of buffalo on a beach noticed or heard something which made them run to the top of a hill before the tsunami was anywhere in sight. The villagers who followed them were saved.
What causes animals to sense an earthquake?
· One theory is that they can sense the earth move before people can. There are vibrations deep in the earth that begin before an earthquake can be detected.
· Another idea is that electrical changes in the air and gas released from the earth disturb animals.
Some scientists dismiss these ideas, while others believe that they are worth researching further. Those scientists who have witnessed this strange animal behavior are certain that animals are far more sensitive to subtle changes in the earth than people are and that studying their behavior can be useful in the prediction of earthquakes. Much research still needs to be done on this subject.