11 Surprising Ways Your Pet Understands Nature Better Than You Do

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If you’ve ever caught your dog sniffing the wind like it holds the answer to life’s mysteries or seen your cat perched on a windowsill, scanning the yard like a stealthy spy, you might wonder: What do I not know that they do? The fact is that animals have instincts which have been finely tuned over millions of years of evolution, and they often know more about understanding and dealing with nature than we do. They’re turned on to signals from the earth that we simply can’t even start to translate.

We don’t just live in nature, we live with it, and so do our pets. They can feel changes in the environment, understand patterns, and conform so intuitively to even unimaginable situations, such that we end up scratching our heads. Let’s explore some of the ways your furry friend might be outsmarting you outside.

Sensing Weather Changes

Warning Signs Your Dog is Struggling With Anxiety — Photo Credit: Pixabay

Have you ever noticed your dog pacing or going under the table just before a thunderstorm? Barometric pressure changes are often signaling incoming weather shifts, and animals are sensitive to it. Dogs show anxiety related behaviors long before the storm arrives, so while you’re relying on apps to tell you the weather, your pet may be catching on to the weather just by watching for the clues.

Tuning Into Earthquakes

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In 1975, animal behavior reported from Haicheng, China, led authorities to evacuate a city before a major earthquake hit. Cats, dogs, and even farm animals acted funny, not wanting to go into buildings and getting upset. Scientists think this is because animals can feel vibrations or hear frequencies that humans can’t. And so, if your pet starts acting weird, it might not be random, it might be seismic.

Recognizing Toxic Plants

For some reason, pets manage to avoid dangerous plants. Oleander or foxglove might be lovely to humans, but they are toxic if eaten. In particular, dogs depend on their sense of smell to tell safe from unsafe foliage. Any plant identification app you can download will pale in comparison to their instincts.

Reading Body Language

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Animals are very good at reading the cues of other creatures. Your cat doesn’t need a manual to know a puffed up raccoon is trouble. This isn’t a skill just for survival, but for thriving in nature. This allows them understanding on slight variations of posture or movement which enables them run away from dangers and coexisting with their surroundings in a harmonious way.

Finding Water Sources

Provide Fresh Water — Photo Credit: Rambolin/Pixabay

If you run out of water and your pet has to get resourceful, they will. For example, animals like dogs have an ability to smell water from way more than a mile away. The next time you’re out hiking and depending solely on your reusable bottle, think about that.

Homing Instincts

Have you heard about the lost dog traveling hundreds of miles to find its owner? This incredible skill isn’t a coincidence. Animals may use a mixture of scent trails, magnetic fields and celestial cues to navigate, researchers suggest. Without Google Maps, we’d be lost.

Sensing Danger

Houses Without a Dog — Photo Credit: Couleur via pixabay

That quirky nervous behavior of your pet just might save your life. Dogs have been known to warn owners of snakes, bear tracks or even a gas leak. Dogs can smell changes in the chemicals we emit when we’re afraid, which could explain why they know when something—or someone—is dangerous.

Foraging Wisely

To put it bluntly, your pet’s wild ancestors needed to be adept at distinguishing safe sources of food. When you’re off reading labels at the grocery store, your dog may instinctively know not to eat certain berries or mushrooms in the wild. In our modern, convenience filled lives, we’ve pretty much lost this talent.

Listening to Subtle Sounds

Dogs can hear up to 65,000 Hz, humans only 20,000 Hz. This means they can hear the sound of far away thunder, movement of wildlife, or even the hum of electronics before we do. That’s why Fido might bark at something you can’t hear, or your cat always seems to know when the food bag is being opened.

Adapt to Temperature Shifts

Provide Appropriate Bedding — Photo Credit: Pixabay

As you’re complaining about the heat, or bundling up against the cold, your pet’s body is naturally adjusting to the temperature. For example, cats conserve energy in hot climates, by resting in day time and being active at night. Fur coat and efficient panting keeps dogs warm; better than humans and our clunky thermostats.

Sensing Emotions

This isn’t nature exclusive, but it’s also worth noting how bonded pets are with human emotions. When you’re stressed on a camping trip or feeling uneasy during a hike, your pet will likely mirror your emotions—or act calm to reassure you. For instance, dogs are so tuned into humans they can even detect slight shifts in scent tied to emotions.

Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.