Toads were observed to leave a breeding area five days before an earthquake in Italy.
Throughout the centuries, anecdotes tell of the ability of animals to predict earthquakes. The earliest account is the story of the Greek city of Helice. According to Diodorus, the rats, centipedes and snakes left the city before it was destroyed by an earthquake and tsunami. Recently, a new study indicates that animals may really have the ability to sense oncoming earthquakes.
History
In the early 1980s, the U.S. Geological Survey studied captive rats and asked people to contact them if they saw any unusual pet behavior before an earthquake. The study turned up nothing. "What we're faced with is a lot of anecdotes. Animals react to so many things, so it's hard to have a controlled study to get that advanced warning signal," said Andy Michael of the USGS.
Early Research
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, most of the studies about unusual animal behavior prior to earthquakes are taking place in China and Japan. A 2003 study in Japan concluded that excessive barking and biting by dogs are possible predictors of earthquakes. In China, unusual animal behavior prompted officials to evacuate the city of Haicheng before an earthquake.
Recent Studies
In 2009, researcher Rachel Grant was studying a population of toads during breeding season. Without explanation, they disappeared. Confused, Grant tried to find an explanation. Five days later, a 6.3 earthquake struck the area. Researching, she discovered that a migration of toads was also seen in 2008 in Szechuan, China, before a quake. According to Grant, more study is needed to discover what earthquake precursors the animals are sensing.
Tags: before earthquake, Geological Survey, unusual animal, unusual animal behavior
