🌚🌞TOTALITY: How will it affect the animals?
On the mountain up here in Vermont, we are grateful and excited to be in the path of totality during the total solar eclipse on April 8th. Many folks have been asking me how this will affect the animals.
When the sky suddenly turns dark, wildlife and our animal friends can exhibit some strange behavior. Some animals might quickly enter into their nighttime routines, some will make noise to warn others of a potential threat, and some will even start mating. Some flowers will quickly close up, nocturnal insects will come out, and busy bees will go quiet.
But frequently our animal friends can get quite anxious during totality, and may act similar to how they would around fireworks.
If you too will be in the path, here are some tips to help keep your animal friends safe and comfortable:
If your animals are triggered by things like fireworks and thunder, it will be best to keep them inside to avoid runaways.
If you are leaving your animals at home while you go out to experience totality, consider leaving the lights on so they will be less likely to be affected by the sudden darkness.
Consider putting some calming music on to distract them from any unusual outside noises or an uptick in external energy.
If your animals are easily startled, consider giving them some calming treats and extra loving attention that day.
That said, my pup Elvira will be outside with me experiencing totality. She is most comfortable when we are together, and she is not triggered by fireworks, thunder, etc., though I will have her on a leash to be safe. Basically what it comes down to is doing whatever you know is going to keep your animals protected and secure, and you know your animal companions best!
And if they are acting a little strange, silly, or scared on Monday, keep in mind that the eclipse brings potent and powerful energy to which our animals are very in tune.
“The power of the eclipse is its strangeness,” says astronomer and eclipse chaser Doug Duncan. “There are things that happen during a total eclipse that never happen any other time in your life.”
