BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN) – Much has already been said about the total solar eclipse that will occur this April and what eclipse-watchers can expect from this once-in-a-lifetime celestial event.
But what about our furry friends and other wildlife? How will the eclipse affect their behavior and behavior when a total path sweeps through Western New York on Monday, April 8th? Or?
When it comes to household pets such as dogs and cats, most animal experts say there are no significant changes in their behavior in the moments before and after complete darkness.
“It's very interesting that some of our friends are completely unaware of what's going on. For example, my Labrador… As long as I'm with you, I probably won't care too much.” . “Many people are at work and may be worried about their pets at home. That's why I recommend keeping your home as dark as possible so you don't notice any changes in light. I think it's just a matter of what your pet feels.'' It's the coming of twilight darkness that our wild and domestic species feel.
“Some dogs who are more sensitive may feel like a storm is approaching and look to us for guidance, or how we are reacting and feeding off of the emotions we are emitting. They may be trying to check in. If you’re relaxed, most of the time they’ll feel calmer and more relaxed.”
Meanwhile, Dr. Stevens says that while not all cats are the same, our feline friends may not care as much about what's going on in the human world.
“We think our feline friends are ready for a nice nap. Or maybe they're upset that their sunny spot on the window isn't as sunny and warm as it used to be. ” he said.
While our household pets may not be too affected by the total solar eclipse, domesticated animals and other wildlife may feel a little different Monday afternoon in Western New York. unknown.
“The eclipse itself is only 3 minutes and 45 seconds long in this area. My understanding, and I'm not an expert in this area, is that the twilight zone is actually 30 minutes before and 30 minutes after. Animals “It will take about an hour for the patient to begin to feel a difference in the world around him,” Dr. Stevens said. “Obviously, it's going to get darker and darker outside and the temperatures are going to get colder. Hopefully, it'll be a sunny day in Buffalo and we'll all be able to see it and enjoy it.”
What you would expect to find with many field animals is whether they are diurnal or nocturnal. Diurnal animals go to sleep when they sense it's time to start the day's work.
“The chickens may go to roost, the horses to the barn, the cows to the shed, the bees to their hives. And my personal memory of the last solar eclipse is that the birds became surprisingly quiet. “This is very interesting and something that people should pay attention to and listen to,” Dr. Stevens said.
As for nocturnal animals, they will feel it's time to wake up and begin their normal nightly activities. Jeff Musial, also known as “Jeff the Animal Guy” of Nickel City Reptiles and Exotics, says this will be a big curveball thrown at these animals.
“A lot of these nocturnal animals come out and all of a sudden the sun comes back and they say, 'What's going on?' Because this is not something they see every day. , it's going to be really confusing,” Musial said in an interview with WBEN.
According to the musical, animals that people might see coming out in the dark include raccoons, possums, and skunks in the moments before and after.
“You might be having an eclipse party and the next thing you know there are a few raccoons walking around in your backyard,” he says. “The skunks, the raccoons, they'll come flying out, the birds will all stop singing and roost in the trees at night, the crickets will start chirping…and when the sun comes out, they'll start chirping again. , raccoons, possums, skunks, they all run away because they think someone is playing a prank on them.”
Musial added that there's no need to worry if nocturnal animals emerge during the eclipse. He says that when they wake up for a short moment before being evacuated again, they probably won't try to interfere with anyone.
The only thing Musial mentions about being careful with your nocturnal friends during the April 8 solar eclipse is to be careful with your friends on the road.
“Be a little more careful when driving etc. There will be some wild animals who will be confused as to what is going on on their way back to where they spent the night, so they might be out and about. “We have to be very careful on the highways and things like that to hopefully get everyone back to normal,” Musial said.
Meanwhile, the Buffalo Zoo is buzzing with excitement as we prepare for the total solar eclipse.
“We are preparing for a large number of visitors that day,” said Lisa Smith, the zoo's president and CEO. “We're also preparing to do research around the eclipse and about the animals, and we're also preparing to hand out free eclipse glasses, which will be on Saturday, Sunday, and the day of.” Solar eclipse. ”
Smith and the zoo's staff don't have high hopes for most animals' behavior changing during the eclipse.
“They will just maintain the activities that they do, but some of the animals that we expect will be nocturnal,” Smith noted. “Birds may move to branches for night roosts, animals may try to get behind the scenes by holding on to buildings. There will be a certain percentage of animals that will behave as if it is night time. .”
However, Smith feels that some animals should be cautious about the possibility of their nerves becoming aroused during a solar eclipse.
“You might see it in animals that are generally more nervous, like zebras, and if they're in a herd. But we don't think anyone would really get upset, and They're not fit to see the sun. We don't expect that to happen,” Smith said.
Beyond animals on display in zoos, Smith feels that changes in animal behavior will come from animals in the wild.
“Herons are known to leave their daytime roosts and return to their nighttime roosts. In those three minutes of total darkness, you might see insects come out, you might hear crickets chirping, We may see more activity at that level,” Smith said. “And what you might experience is when the sun reappears after the total tide, you might hear birds chirping, so-called dawn songs. Those are the songs you hear in the morning.”
So what will the Buffalo Zoo offer visitors on April 8, the day of the solar eclipse?
“The first 500 people that come through the door will get a free solar eclipse glass. We're doing some activities with our breeding staff as far as citizen science research, and we're will have the opportunity to help observe the animals during the “eclipse, if you wish.'' And our education department also has some activities underway, including building eclipse viewer boxes. .”
