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How will your pets react to the solar eclipse?

Posted at 3:51 PM, Jul 11, 2017
and last updated 2017-07-12 11:59:12-04

Parts of Idaho and Oregon are in the path of totality for the Aug. 21 total solar eclipse. 

In order to educate Idahoans about the phenomena surrounding the eclipse, the Department of Physics at Boise State University has been hosting presentations around the state. 

Brian Jackson is an assistant professor in the department. He says he gets questions about what the eclipse will look like for those who aren't in the path of totality and how the family pet might act that day.

"Humans, who are told about the eclipse, will know that this is just an amazing, short-lived phenomenon," Jackson said. "But animals, they often think that it's night... it has been reported during eclipses that birds will fly back to the nest, cows will head back to the barn, dogs will bed down. They think it's night because it looks just like night to them."

Jackson says some animals may even be a little disoriented, wondering why nighttime didn't last longer.

Jackson says not to worry, though. There have been no proven long-term effects from a solar eclipse on humans or animals.