Eclipse may strange behavior from wildlife, Texas experts say

The upcoming April 8 total solar eclipse will soon leave many in total darkness during the day, drawing awe from spectators and slight, albeit brief, freak from native wildlife. Experts told MySA that wildlife and animals will likely demonstrate anxious and unusual behaviors during the rare phenomenon. 

Parts of San Antonio, and small towns around Texas, will be on the path of totality, when the moon completely covers the sun for anywhere from 3.5 and 4 minutes depending on their location. Those outside the path will be able to see a partial eclipse, where the moon only blocks a portion of the sun. 

Wildlife can change behaviors during eclipses, according to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Some demonstrate nighttime activities, some demonstrate anxious behaviors, while others can appear unaffected. TPWD said the most dramatic and noticeable effect is the birds will stop singing and will often immediately stop flying. 

Officials said bats may also emerge temporarily before immediately heading back to their roost. It is also possible that nocturnal birds, like owls and nightjars, can start to become active. 

Most wildlife slowly changes their pattern between night and day during an eclipse, TPWD said. For the ones who do, research shows wildlife quickly returning to their normal behavior, according to TPWD.

Charles Ritzler, the director of animal wellbeing at the San Antonio Zoo, told MySA that past studies show that zoo animals will likely become less active and begin their nighttime routine. At the San Antonio Zoo, the staff studied the effects of the annular solar eclipse in October 2023 on some of the zoo’s population.

An annular solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes directly between the Earth and the sun, but does not completely cover the sun’s disk. During the October event, Ritzler said the zoo’s giant Aldabra tortoises did appear to be less active, while Timothy and Uma (the hippos) snuggled together as if it were nighttime. However, other animals remained unaffected. 

Ritzler said they plan to conduct the same study during the total solar eclipse on April 8. He said there’s a chance there will be stronger effects during the April event due to the total darkness. 

Some researchers have found flamingos gather in a circle around their offspring to protect them during a total solar eclipse, according to USA Today. The studies also showed giraffes galloping around their enclosure, gorillas marching to their dens, and Galapagos tortoises mating.

If you want to learn more about how animals act, the San Antonio Zoo is hosting a pre-eclipse event the day before on April 7. Guests can learn about the upcoming eclipse, the animals, and more. You can also grab special viewing glasses for the solar eclipse the next day.