Animal behaviour folklore suggests cold winter ahead for UK

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 21 Oct, 08:57 · Archive

Traditional folklore links animal behaviour such as squirrel hoarding and spider webs to predictions of a harsh winter.

Traditional folklore across the UK links various animal behaviours to winter severity. Squirrels gathering or stockpiling large quantities of nuts, and appearing heavier than usual, are said to indicate squirrels anticipating dramatic temperature drops. Spiders weaving unusually expansive webs have been traditionally associated with colder conditions, though these are typically the work of larger, fully-grown spiders rather than indicators of weather patterns.

Other traditional weather predictors include the woolly bear caterpillar, where a broader brown stripe on its back is supposed to signal a gentler winter. Bird migration patterns are also cited in folklore as offering clues about upcoming weather conditions, with the belief that birds naturally sense approaching seasons.

However, experts question the credibility of these animal behaviours as reliable meteorological indicators. The Mirror notes that spiders entering homes in large numbers during autumn and winter is commonly explained by multiple spider species reaching maturity during autumn, which drives males to search for females and makes them more visible indoors rather than indicating weather changes. The Mirror also states that whilst birds can detect approaching storms through atmospheric pressure changes and other factors, early migration southwards is not nature's way of alerting people to impending cold spells.

How it is being reported

• Cold and hard winter coming after common sign we've all seen in natureSquirrels hoarding nuts and spiders appearing indoors are being linked to a cold UK winterThe Mirror · 21 Oct, 08:42
• Sign we've all seen in nature means a cold and hard winter is comingAs squirrels scurry and spiders take over our homes, nature could be warning us of a cold winterDaily Express · 21 Oct, 07:00

In this story: UK · Woolly bear caterpillar

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