Here at Missouri Lost & Found Paws, we are always saddened each day when we have new pets to post that are lost or found. Accidental situations are the common reason for a pet to go missing. But did you know that the upcoming eclipse could cause your fur baby to act out of sorts?
Here is some information from KSDK:
“Pets
According to the Mother Nature Network, dogs and cats may be frightened or confused by the total solar eclipse. They note it may not be any different than their reactions to fireworks or other loud noises, regardless of the fact an eclipse is a silent event. They suggest keeping pets leashed during totality just to be safe.
Additionally, pets, in general, are likely to be spooked not by the sky, but by what’s on the ground. Keep an eye out for your location when you’re out and about viewing the totality just in case your pet gets scared from the noises surrounding them.
Experts are torn on the use of eye protection for animals, although one official thinks all the fuss is nothing to worry about.
“On a normal day, your pets don’t try to look at the sun, and therefore don’t damage their eyes. On this day, they’re not going to do it either,” said Angela Speck, director of astronomy at the University of Missouri-Columbia. “I’m not going to worry about my cat.”
Wildlife
Animals out in the wild have a different plan of action to totality, although it’s not something they choose to do on purpose. For example, birds will treat the solar eclipse as if its’s the morning, despite totality occurring during dusk – their time of the day to quiet down. But, as the blog says, “This disruption is brief, though, and reportedly doesn’t throw off the birds’ internal clocks or the broad patterns that dictate things like migration.”
Other creatures react differently. During a solar eclipse in 1991, some orb-weaving spiders were observed acting normally until totality, taking their webs down, just to rebuild them once the sun appeared the next morning. Meanwhile, crickets, frogs, and mosquitos may start their evening duties.” ~article ‘Animals and the solar reclipse: how are they affected?‘