The Earth is an interesting place and everything that happens here impacts something or someone in a unique way.
Many are anxiously awaiting the solar eclipse that is set to occur on April 8, 2024. At about noon on this date, the moon will pass between the sun and the Earth, thus darkening some parts of the planet.
The best spot in the country to see a total eclipse will be in east Texas, while much of Louisiana will see about an 80% eclipse. So yes, some parts of Texas and Louisiana will get dark in the middle of the day and it may get eery for just a few minutes.
A few years ago we experienced a solar eclipse here and while it didn’t get as dark as it may have been this time, there was still something absent from most yards.
As the moon passed between the Earth and the sun, I noticed that everything in my yard went silent. By that I mean the insects weren’t chipping and all of the birds went silent. It was such a unique experience to hear silence in the middle of the day.
So, what will happen in April when some parts of the country experience a total eclipse? Well, animals are affected by the eclipse as their mind and body are programmed by the time of the day, much like your body is too.
When the sun is shaded by the moon during the eclipse, some animals will retreat to where they sleep, while others may emerge. Those animals that come out at night may emerge in the middle of the day (like bats) because they will think it’s the evening hours when it is actually noon.
If you have time during the upcoming solar eclipse (April 8th) I highly encourage you to go outdoors and just listen. If you’re away from traffic, you may experience the silence that I did during the last solar eclipse.
I also encourage you to monitor your pets at home. If you have a dog, let it be outdoors during the eclipse and watch its behavior. Chances are that during the solar eclipse it will want to rest and perhaps even lie down.
For a better understanding of how the solar eclipse will affect animals, check out what researchers found here.