Snakes are like nature's early warning system. They can feel an earthquake coming from very far away and will even leave their warm homes to escape.
Humans need high-tech machines to detect earthquakes, but snakes have a built-in "superpower" that lets them sense the ground shaking long before we do. In fact, they are known to be some of the best earthquake predictors in the animal kingdom.
Snakes are very sensitive to vibrations in the ground. While humans only feel the big "shake" of an earthquake, snakes can pick up on tiny "P-waves" (primary waves) that travel through the earth days before the actual disaster hits. Because they spend most of their time with their bodies pressed against the ground, they can feel the earth "talking" in a way we can't.
When a big earthquake is coming, snakes start acting very weird. Even in the middle of a freezing winter when they should be sleeping (hibernating), snakes have been seen crawling out of their holes to escape. They are so scared of the upcoming tremors that they would rather face the cold than stay underground. Scientists have observed snakes sensing earthquakes from as far as 120 kilometers (about 75 miles) away!
In places like China, experts have used snake farms to help predict disasters. By watching videos of snakes, they can tell if a quake is coming. If the snakes suddenly start smashing into walls or acting frantic, it's a big sign that something is about to happen. Even though we have fancy tools today, sometimes a snake's belly is the best sensor there is.
Snakes can sense earthquakes up to five days before they strike. Their bodies are so sensitive to ground vibrations that they can feel tiny warnings from far away. When the earth is about to move, snakes will do anything to get away, making them one of nature's most amazing warning signs.