I remember after the devastating earthquake and the resulting tsunamis in 2004, I read a bunch of articles about how people saw animals retreating to higher ground before the massive waves hit beaches and how they just knew that something terrible was about to happen.
Like a sense of intuition that humans didn’t understand.
And it turns out that nature and animals can give us a lot of warnings about dangerous things.
What little-known warning from nature might just save your life?
Here’s what folks had to say on AskReddit.
1. Wow.
“Squirrels will sometimes watch you from a distance while making alarm calls. The sound varies by species but it’s generally a sort of squawking bark.
If you hear them barking, and they aren’t yelling at you, then there may be something else around they think is a predator. It’s worth paying attention.”
2. Riptides.
“If you are at swimming at the beach or a coastal inlet & see an unusually calm area of water, get away from it, it could be a riptide.
On that note. If you get stuck in a rip, don’t swim against it, you will tire & drown, swim parallel to the coast till you swim out of the rip.”
3. What’s that smell?
“If you’re hiking and suddenly smell something very musky, almost reminiscent of a faint country manure, keep your eyes open.
I was hiking on the Appalachian Trail today, up in Maryland. The wind shifted and the smell changed to something like I described above. Caught me off guard, but I kept hiking. About a quarter mile later, I turned around and began to head to my car since I was already 6 miles into a 2.5 mile hike.
Right around where the smell changed, I heard a sudden crashing sound and saw a black bear just busting it’s way away from the trail into the woods.
I had walked past it, and then came back upon it when I turned around.”
4. That’s scary.
“If major colonies of ants are coming out of the ground, an earthquake is coming in several hours.”
5. Keep an eye out.
“Surprised the flash flood sign hasn’t been posted yet.
If you’re walking near water and if turns dirty and dirty with debris in it, get to high ground.”
6. Pay attention.
“Animals fleeing is basically nature’s version of the Waffle House Index.
If they are fleeing you know things just got serious.”
7. Hot to the touch.
“If a tree is hot to touch get the f**k out.
I don’t know if this is common in other countries, but here in Australia we have what’s called “widowmakers”.
Basically eucalyptus trees are extremely flammable and its possible for the tree to be on fire internally, but not visible on the outside, and can literally explode at any given moment.”
8. Gimme shelter.
“If a tornado looks like it’s not moving, chances are that it is either coming right at you, or it’s moving away from you.
Always assume it’s coming towards you and seek shelter right away.”
9. Don’t come any closer.
“If a bee keeps “head butting” you and annoying you, alter course.
They are warning you that you’re getting too close to the nest.”
10. Not a good thing.
“Most animals don’t smile.
If you see teeth or an open mouth, it’s usually a warning or sign of aggression.”
11. Pollution.
“If you see multiple d**d fish in a body of water where people don’t fish, don’t go in the water.
It likely has high bacteria or is polluted.”
12. Look out below!
“If there are tall clouds nearby, and you get a metallic taste or hear any buzzing, feel static-y, lightning it about to hit pretty much exactly where you are.”
13. This one, too.
“Your own senses.
If you feel like something is wrong, there is a good chance it is. In your peripheral you may have seen something or gotten a vibe from someone that made your hair stand. Don’t just dismiss the feeling.
Our subconscious is very attuned to hostile body language in people capable of v**lence.”
Do you have anything to add to this conversation?
If so, please talk to us in the comments.
We’d love to hear from you!