9 animals that can predict the weather

1. Groundhogs

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Legend has it that each year on February 2nd, a groundhog who sees its shadow at sunrise predicts six more weeks of winter. We've calculated that this is about 50% accurate, so take the groundhog forecast as you will as you impatiently wait for spring.

2. Cows

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Farmers say that cows acting restless and lying down -- odd behavior for these large mammals -- can signal that a big storm is coming. A 2013 article in The Daily Mail reported that there is in fact scientific evidence that cows have special weather predicting powers!

3. Dogs

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Is it about to rain cats and dogs? Your pet may know! Dogs have been known to act restless before a big storm ABC blogs that dogs really can sense storms! Don't let Fido forget your umbrella.

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4. Cats

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Have you relied on a feline forecaster lately? NPR reports that an 1883 book from the U.S. Army Signal Service, the predecessor to the National Weather Service, claimed that the natural world can be better than than scientific tools at predicting the weather. Some cat signals to look out for: sneezing, scratching, lying on their head with a turned-up mouth and snoring can all predict rain.

5. Frogs

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According to Woman's Day, frogs are known to croak louder before a big storm hits.

6. Birds

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Birds have been said to predict major storms, like tornadoes and natural disasters. National Geographic reports that scientists believe birds can be "tipped off by infrasound—a type of low-frequency noise—produced by the storms," which humans cannot hear. Groups of birds migrating with high energy can signal an upcoming storm.

7. Japanese catfish

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Different than American catfish, Japanese catfish have been said to predict earthquakes, both in folklore and science. The L.A. Times reported at study in which Japanese catfish increased activity before quakes.

8. Turtles

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Before a big storm -- which could cause habitat flooding -- turtles may become more apparent on roads and sidewalks. WikiHow says turtles move to higher ground when they predict a large rainfall.

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9. Squirrels

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See a bunch of squirrels hoarding food? It may be because they know that a big storm or harsh weather is coming. Nature Alamanac says that squirrels burying their nuts deep in the ground can foreshadow cold weather.