Crawling Critters

There are many ways to forecast, and the technology of today is keeping us comfortable. However, forecasting use to be less accurate and more of a guess. Also, some people don't have access to the high-tech tools needed in forecasting. One tool that is available is the natural tools: animals, insects, and even plants. These tools aren't always reliable, but do change with the weather. Uncomfortable situations brought by weather can be brought out by the restlessness of an animal. Below you can see some of the common forecasting techniques using animals. However, sometimes the animals can be misinterpreted, and often times not all of the same animal breed react the same. Since animals might make certain "weather" signs at any time, look for multiple clues to be sure. If many signs happen at the same time that indicate rain is on the way, it probably is.

If ants their walls do frequent build, rain will from the clouds be spilled.
When spiders weave their webs by noon, fine weather is coming soon.
The gnats bite and I scratch in vain, because they know it is going to rain.
If bees stay at home, rain will soon come; if they fly away, fine will be the day.
Insects flying in numbers just at evening show weather changing to rain.
Fireflies fly very low before a rain.
When cockroaches fly, rain will drop by.
The locust sings when it is to be hot and clear.
A robin in a bush means rain.
When swans fly against the wind, rain is coming.
Swallows fly high: clear blue sky; swallows fly low: rain shall know.
If eels are very lively, it is a sign of rain.
If fowls roll in the sand, rain is at hand.
Frogs croak before a rain, but in sun stay quiet again.
If many earthworms appear, rain will follow.
Fish bite the least, with wind in the east. (A thunder storm is approaching)
Salt becomes damp before rain.
When cattle lie down during a light rain, it will soon pass.
When cattle are on hilltops, fine weather is coming.
When cattle stand with their backs to the wind, rain is coming.
Goats leave high ground and seek shelter before a storm.
When pigs carry hay or straw in their mouths, there will be rain or wind.
When the donkey blows his horn, 'tis time to house your corn.
When a cat sneezes, it is a sign of rain.
If flowers stay open all night, the weather will be wet the next day.
When the leaves of trees curl during a south wind, it will rain.
Seaweed dry, sunny sky; seaweed wet, rain you'll get.
If watercress beds steam on a summer evening, the next day will be hot.
When sunflowers raise their heads, it is a sign of rain.
Pondweed sinks before a storm.