14 Track 14

Unit 11

Look into the future

Chapter 2

Predicting Earthquakes

Page 141

Can Animals Predict Earthquakes?

Dear Scientist Sam,

I noticed my dog acting very nervous only a few minutes before a recent earthquake shook the house. Is it possible that my dog knew the earthquake was going to happen?

Janet

Well, Janet, people have believed for many centuries that animals can predict earthquakes. In fact, we can look back to records from the ancient Greeks.

They notice that animals acted oddly in the hours before earthquakes. Even now, people talk about dogs that won’t stop barking and catch that won’t come out of hiding before an earthquake.

Furthermore, strange behavior like this before earthquakes isn’t limited to pets. People have also reported seeing chickens stop laying eggs, bees leaving their homes, and big groups of fish dying mysteriously in the hours before a natural disaster hits.

It’s hard to answer your question, since not all seismologists or animal experts agree that animals can predict earthquakes. Those that disagree claim that we should take into account other things that affect animal behavior, such as hunger.

On the other hand, many people who believe that animals can predict earthquakes often have records of very strange animal behavior right before the ground shakes. To them, this is evidence that animals can indeed predict earthquakes.

In short, the truth is that we aren’t sure. Animals might be able to sense earthquakes before they happen, but there is no solid evidence that they can. However, one thing that most seismologists can agree on is that more research is needed.

Animals may be the key to predicting earthquakes before they happen, and could help save many lives.