How to prepare your pets for the total solar eclipse

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) - It’s hard not to feel the excitement spread for the solar eclipse as folks across the state are preparing to view this rare event, and the excitement has spread as far as our animal friends, too.

“It’s a lot like a sudden storm blowing up, so when you see changes in behavior like running for cover and that sort of thing, a lot of that is like that for them because to them they think there is a storm coming and you just see a little bit of anxious behavior from animals during an eclipse,” said Beth Oleson with the Woodford Humane Society.

Researchers have observed all sorts of animals during past solar eclipses and tracked how their behavior might shift during periods of totality. Most animals treat it like an overcast sky or storm. But with this being a Total solar eclipse, animal behavior might shift.

Mac Stone from Elmwood Stock Farm said that chickens will treat the darkness as if it were nighttime

“So it’s a protection mechanism, so they go and roost on usually a rail or in the wild its a tree limb or somewhere safe and protected. They go to the same spot every night, and that’s their safe space”

Most times, our pets react directly to our behavior and excitement, so in order to keep our furry friends calm, it will be important to soothe any animal anxiety before we head into the period of totality

Oleson said, “I don’t think we need to worry about ocular protection for our cats and dogs. The compulsion to stare at the sun is a uniquely human experience”

It is recommended that you prep your pets like you usually do if a storm is coming. They will react to a quick change in light the same way, even without the sounds of the storm.