Animals that predict the weather
By jpso138
@jpso138 (7851)
Philippines
June 29, 2009 4:26am CST
I was recently invited to speak on a disaster management seminar. My topic was about First aid and CPR. After my turn, the next speaker was the head of the weather station in our region. It was from him that I know that there are some animals that can predict the weather. One of them is the frog. Have you heard about this? Frogs have sensitive ears and when there is a low pressure, usually they feel it and often hide under the water. Thus when there is a typhoon you will eventually hear the sound of silence. But when the weather is clear and okay, you would always hear the frogs singing. So perhaps next time, you can probably observe the frogs when you feel something wrong or when there is heavy rains. As long as they are noisy, the weather is fine. Have you observe this before?
3 people like this
12 responses
@ElicBxn (63233)
• United States
29 Jun 09
honestly, I don't hear a lot of frogs now, even the toads are staying outta this dry weather! hummm, wonder if the dogs water has had a recent visit from a neighborhood toad... guess I'll have ta ask the other roomie, since she's the one that deals with that most of the time...
1 person likes this
@cobra1368 (702)
• United States
29 Jun 09
Yes, I have heard of that. I wouldn't go so far as to say that they are "predicting the weather" though. Most wild animals are more perceptive than us humans. Some, like frogs, can detect very slight changes in the current conditions, and they have developed adaptations over time to be able to recognize the change and react to it in order to ensure their survival.
It is simple natural selection. Those animals that don't pick up on these changes and don't protect themselves from the changes in the weather may not survive to reproduce. This process, over several million generations, eventually leads to animals that are able to appropriately react to their environment, thus ensuring their survival for future generations.
I saw that someone mentioned that groundhog in Penn. That is simply superstition, nothing more. And yes, it IS ridiculous.
@jpso138 (7851)
• Philippines
30 Jun 09
I see. From the way you have responded you are very much familiar with the situation. Very scientific indeed. Well, I guess animals are given this inherent instinct for them to survive. Without this all animals would have been instinct by now knowing that their brains are far behind as compared to humans.
@cobra1368 (702)
• United States
30 Jun 09
Animals are acting on instinct, yes. They aren't aware that they are not as intelligent as we are - they are not capable of that awareness.
I know I get deep with these sort of discussions. I'm a wildlife biologist. This is my "thing."
Thanks for the interesting discussion! 
Thanks for the interesting discussion! 
@Mitraa (3184)
• India
30 Jun 09
I have seen that a group of dragonflies flying overhead makes rains if it is dry, and stops rains if it was raining for some days. This has been an old belief in my locality. Your observation about frogs is also true that has been observed by peole here! Also if frogs make croaking sound in a dry and cloudy weather, it is the sign of rain approaching!
Thanks for tis nice discussion and have a good day!!
@jpso138 (7851)
• Philippines
2 Jul 09
Thank you for sharing your opinion. Actually it was my friend who works with the weather station who told me about this. In fact he is sharing this information to participants of the disaster seminar that we conduct together. I think this information would be very helpful most especially in our country since it is composed of 7100 islands, with many people fish for a living and most houses are made of light materials.
@marlena18042 (636)
• United States
29 Jun 09
I am from P.a. and we have here that Punxsutawney Phil. That groundhog ! Ridiculous. That is all I have ever heard of anyanimal that predicts any weather.
What you are talking about sounds very amazing! It does make sense if you look at the way humans seem to have a 6th sense with things like that as well.
I know 2 people one with arthritis and then other has tendinitis(hope I spelled that correctly!) and they tell me that they can tell when rain is coming because they can feel it in there knees! That is pretty interesting with those frogs!
1 person likes this
@jpso138 (7851)
• Philippines
29 Jun 09
I guess this is especially true about frogs. Ever since I was a child and there is bad weather, the frogs are so silent. I live in a place where there is somewhat a low level area and often water is collected and will stay there for quite a time. This is often frequented by frogs. They are often noisy at night. But when there is a bad weather coming, they are very silent. With respect to humans, yes, I agree with you. I have a friend that has this metal in his knees. Usually he feels pain and often tells me that rain is coming.
@dinhquanghuy (647)
• Vietnam
30 Jun 09
When I was a boy ,I saw the dragonfly to predict the weather . I think animal is more sensitive than human in feeling what changing in weather .They said before the earth quake in Cobe Japan ,gold fish were crazy ,dogs bark and go around ...
@jheLaichie (4438)
• Philippines
29 Jun 09
do i? yes i do! but i just dont know what all those frogs songs after the rain. i thought they are just happy because of the rain that pour on them. this is really so new to me my friend and i am glad i did step by your page. i do know something from you. and now i know if ever that will happen again.
jhelai
@jpso138 (7851)
• Philippines
29 Jun 09
Well, I am glad that you were able to read this post. I guess you have a point there in so far as happiness. Perhaps the frogs are obviously happy knowing that the weather is fine. Surely there are animals that would give us clue on some weather disturbance. Snakes can feel of earthquake, there were noted movements of snakes in a certain area prior to the earthquake, in Spain abundance of fish caught in a certain area tells of El Nino, in fact this is why it got the spanish term. I believe that there are other things that other animals can tell us. Only that we failed to see them due to our busy and hurried life. Best to you always!
@Signal20 (2281)
• United States
29 Jun 09
Never knew that about frogs, interesting. I know there's a fish called a dojo loach, also called a weather loach. I've never owned any for a long period of time, so not sure exactly what they do, but I believe they're affected by the barometric pressure and become more active.
@jpso138 (7851)
• Philippines
2 Jul 09
I guess this is the same reason with the frogs. The frogs does feel the pressure when there is such a low pressure. Usually when there is low pressure that is bad weather. So often frogs hide underwater to avoid the pressure. Maybe this the fish you are talking about feels the same effect.
@joyceshookery (2057)
• United States
29 Jun 09
I don't live around any frogs, but I do believe animals have a sensitivity to weather. A couple months ago we had an earthquake -- very mildly felt here as the main quake was about 100 miles away, but my cat knew before I did. She was poised, ears perked up, something about her stance was different than usual. Then I felt the rolling, but she knew before it started.
@jpso138 (7851)
• Philippines
29 Jun 09
Hello there joyce. Thanks for sharing this information. I thought that it was only the snakes that knows of an upcoming earthquake. Now I know that cats do have this feeling too. Well, I just wonder as to what other animal can sense some natural problems. Great to hear from you and do watch your cat from time to time. I guess they know better as compared to machines that monitors earthquake. Up until now, there is no machine that can predict when an earthquake will occur. Perhaps the animals can be utilized for this. Take care!
Up until now, there is no machine that can predict when an earthquake will occur. Perhaps the animals can be utilized for this. Take care!
@rymebristol (1808)
• Philippines
29 Jun 09
it had been proven by science that animals do and can predict weather and other nature related phenomenon. It's a survival instinct. I believe we probably could too when we were more connected with nature.
@jpso138 (7851)
• Philippines
30 Jun 09
You are probably right. There are people who are living close to nature and usually they are very much familiar with disturbances that are usually nature related. Perhaps if we connect more with nature we will be able to know that something wrong will happen much so with weather problems.
@Bloggership (1104)
• Indonesia
29 Jun 09
I never know that frog can predict the weather before... What a amazing ability for such an animals... But in a village of my origin, there is a swamp about 50 meters far from my grandpa house and i still can remember those frogs like they were singing in their crowd at night... Yes... As i remember, the weather was fine... Thanks jpso138...
@jpso138 (7851)
• Philippines
30 Jun 09
Hi there, from what I understand it is there nature to feel such considering that they really are sensitive to low pressure. So obviously they would stay underwater when there is a typhoon or bad weather. When there is high pressure, that is actually a fine weather, thus they go out from the water and enjoy.
@jpso138 (7851)
• Philippines
29 Jun 09
Well, that would be a good idea to observe them. Surely it has been proven already. Frogs are very sensitive to low pressure. In fact, the weather man told me that during the old times when there was no PAGASA, our old folks would usually listen if the frogs are singing at night before going out to sea and fish. Obviously they use the frogs to know if there is an upcoming weather disturbance.
@jamzy_amor86 (182)
• Philippines
29 Jun 09
I think not only frogs have this kind of capability. I think there are also other animals that can predict the weather but it is only the frogs who make much of those sound.
