Can Montana’s Squirrels Predict Winter Weather?

In Montana, humans aren’t the only ones that need to prepare for winter. Governor Gianforte has made proclamation about September Bear Awareness in Montana.

September is Bear Awareness Month in Montana

Bears are active in September, especially pregnant ones, as they prepare for the long winter. Hunters, campers, and hikers need to make sure they stay safe when in bear country.  

Bears aren’t the only animals that get ready for winter. Squirrels spend their fall getting ready for the change of seasons. They can also give us an idea of what kind of winter we have in store.  

READ MORE: If You See a Montana Tree With a Ball of Leaves, It’s Not a Birds’ Nest

According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, squirrels can give us some insight into what kind of weather we can expect for the upcoming winter. 

Whether we are looking at an El Nino, La Nina, or just a regular winter, the squirrels can shed some light on what to expect.  

READ MORE: Montana, Who Remembers These Old School Winter Tires?

There have been a couple squirrels that have been running around my yard lately, driving the dog crazy. The interesting thing is, we haven’t seen any squirrels around this summer. They have just started showing up.  

How Squirrels Predict Winter Weather

I will need to pay attention to them a little more to see if they can predict the winter weather better than meteorologists. Here are the things to look out for.  

Food: If you see squirrels gathering a lot of food fast, it’s going to be snowing soon and it's going to be a cold winter. 

via GIPHY

Tail: The squirrels' tail can also predict the weather. If it’s a big, bushy tail, it’s going to be a rough winter.  

Nests: The higher the squirrels nest can also be an indicator. The higher in the trees they nest, the worse the weather will be. If they nest lower to the ground, the milder the weather.  

As we get ready for a seasonal change, keep an eye on the squirrels. They may know more about what we are in for this winter than we do.