Wild Animal Weather Forecasting

Many animals are gifted by having certain of their senses far superior to that of humans. 

Birds of prey are known to have far better eyesight than ours. We have been told that fish can locate food or home spawning streams with only minute scent particles available to guide them.  It has been documented that many animals such as whales or dogs can hear sounds that are considerably outside our own auditory range.  Some burrowing animals have shown the ability to detect vibration of an impending earthquake in time to evacuate before their dens and tunnels collapse. 

For several years I have observed a number of animals that demonstrate they can sense a drop in barometric pressure, as would be a normal precursor of a storm.  Primarily during the fall and early winter, certain grazing animals help me predict when a storm front is moving in by beginning to feed outside of their normal dinner hours.  Foraging animals worry that a sudden snowstorm will cover their food supply making feeding more difficult.  It is at this time that they discard their normal caution and begin feeding in the open, even during the dangerous daylight hours.

While visiting one of my favorite outdoor areas last fall near Cle Elum I was again able to witness animals predicting an upcoming storm.  

Regularly I patrol a favorite fifteen mile section of road in hopes of seeing a few deer, possibly a bear, elk, wild turkey or an infrequent mountain lion.  Much of the time I am disappointed, as larger animals are usually wary and wait for dark to begin their feeding, especially in open fields.  On this occasion however, I was aware that a storm was being forecasted for the coming day and chose to schedule an outing a few hours ahead of it.  Purposefully I timed my departure from the woods near dusk, to take full advantage of the storm forecast.  As a result of my planning, my drive was rewarded by sighting an abundance of wildlife feeding in open fields.  Over eighty deer, a dozen elk, and fifty-plus wild turkeys were seen eagerly dining on the nearby rich grasses.  I am also certain that there were several more animals readying themselves to join this storm driven, frenzied, feeding party.  The dusk-before-a-storm feeding binge was not a surprise. 

The pattern has become so predictable, that I now plan my outings around the anticipated event.  

Tracks left on winter’s snow often give me an indication of the variety and number of animals frequenting an area, but many of the larger animals migrate when the snow gets too deep.  Early season storms have been my best time for close up animal viewing and of giving me a sense of the quantity of animals in the area. Grazing animals and even the turkeys make adjustments to the storms after snow has formed a more permanent blanket.   

I enjoy seeing wild animals in their native habitat and will frequently drive considerable distances to follow my passion.  During the winter we drive as far as the Yakima, Naches area feeding stations to watch the WDFW feed both elk and big horn sheep.  Now that I have discovered the pattern of animals feeding extensively before a storm, I am able to view considerable wildlife, without nearly the effort or transportation cost. 

Try planning your own wildlife-viewing trip sometime. 

You will do much better if a storm is coming.