For years, people have noticed animals acting strangely right before an earthquake. Some believe they can sense it before humans do, but there’s still no solid proof. However, many reports mention the following behaviors:
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Dogs: They get anxious, bark nonstop, try to break free from their leash, or run away from home. Some even refuse to enter the house.
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Fish: In ponds or aquariums, they suddenly jump out of the water for no clear reason.
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Cats: Usually independent and calm, cats suddenly leave their cozy spots and rush outside as if something is chasing them.
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Birds: If they’re in cages, they frantically try to escape. If they’re flying in flocks, they don’t follow their usual formation and instead move chaotically, almost like they’re panicking.
One real-life example comes from Yanachaga National Park in Peru, where researchers noticed something unusual before a 7.0-magnitude earthquake in 2011. About 23 days before the quake, animal activity dropped significantly. In the final 5-7 days before the earthquake, the forest was eerily quiet—cameras set up in the park barely recorded any movement at all. This was highly unusual for a tropical rainforest, where animals are normally active all the time. (Source)
That being said, most of these stories come from personal experiences and haven’t been scientifically proven. A 2018 report from the Seismological Society of America reviewed 180 studies on the topic but didn’t find solid evidence that animals can actually predict earthquakes. Scientists agree that while animals might react to small tremors or changes in the environment before humans do, it’s still unclear whether their behavior can be used as a reliable earthquake warning system. (Source)
But with today’s technology—like 24/7 surveillance cameras and seismic sensors—scientists now have better tools to study this phenomenon. If future research confirms a real connection between animal behavior and earthquakes, it could be a game-changer for early warning systems. Until then, it’s something fascinating to keep an eye on!