Can Animals Sense Earthquake Before Humans?

The belief that animals can predict earthquakes has been around for centuries. Catfish moving violently, chickens that stop laying eggs and bees leaving their hive in a panic have been reported. Countless pet owners claimed to have witnessed their cats and dogs acting strangely before the ground shook—barking or whining for no apparent reason, or showing signs of nervousness and restlessness. 

No scientific study has proven that animals reliably predict natural disasters, but if your beagle starts losing it for no apparent reason, brace yourself. China also has stories of dogs showing signs of distress before seismic activity. Although dogs are very much aware of their surroundings, some scientists argue that wild and domestic creatures feel the Earth vibrate before humans. Other ideas suggest they detect electrical changes in the air or gas released from the Earth. Either way, if a dog in an earthquake prone area begins to act odd… maybe a spontaneous road trip is in order. But there’s nothing supernatural or sixth sense about it. Seismologists think animals sense an electrical signal generated by the movement of underground rocks before an earthquake. Or they might sense early but weak shocks that humans can’t feel.