Just as we take shelter during a storm, animals also find ways to hunker down and protect themselves. During last week’s hurricane, Kelsey Low of the Houston Arboretum spotted different insects hiding out in her home.
“An Eastern Amberwing dragonfly clung to my window screen for dear life while Beryl passed through. I also found a large sphinx moth hiding from the rain in my garage,” says Kelsey Low of Houston Arboretum.
How do other animals hide out during a storm? Birds will take shelter deep in trees. You can also find rabbits digging under bushes, and frogs and turtles burying themselves in the mud, according to the Houston Arboretum. Owls and snakes will also dig their own burrows in the ground before a storm. However, sometimes debris can block the shelter they’ve created for themselves after the storm passes.
During a hurricane, strong winds can also move birds hundreds of miles away from their original habitats. For example, after Hurricane Earl in 2010, a North Carolina brown pelican was found all the way in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Some animals also can lose their normal food supply, such as squirrels and their nuts. However, deers can benefit from new vegetation that grows after a storm.
Hurricane Beryl caused problems for thousands of Houston’s wild animals. More than 1,600 orphaned or injured birds and critters have been taken in by Houston SPCA’s Wildlife Center, including Mississippi kites, mourning doves, white-winged doves, opossums, and squirrels. They also are taking care of 350 egrets that were blown out of their nests in a northwest neighborhood. Here’s what to do if you find an orphaned animal or injured wildlife.
Related: Here’s how to prep your pets for the next hurricane.
