Animal experts talk about eclipse impacts on animals

DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) — As you prepare for the eclipse, you might be wondering if there is anything you need to do to keep your pet safe. Veterinarian Breana Gingrich says there's not enough research done to know exactly how your pet may react.

"There's very little scientific on animal behavior and eclipses," said Gingrich,

However, if you have a pet that frequently reacts to storms or fireworks, there's a chance they may be more susceptible to the changes in the environment. If you are concerned about how your pet may react, you can also wait with them in an interior room until the eclipse passes.

"They won't be as interested in looking at the sky, but if they sense we are excited or scared they might feel that," said Gingrich. "The best thing we can do is be calm and act like is a normal day."

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For animals outside of your typical cat and dog, they might react differently. Outgoing Scovill Zoo Director Ken Frye says changes to the sky because of the eclipse could cause certain animals to respond as if it is night time.

"Birds will start to think it's dusk and time to go to bed and they'll start to go to roost, and mammals will start to think that same thing and maybe start looking around like 'something's different here' and they'll start looking like they're going to start going to bed," said Fry.

Frye said the animals may also think that there is a storm coming in, so they could head into shelter and try to hide from rain.