Dear Tom,
Neighborhood squirrels have been rifling through my garden and flower pots so frequently this season that nothing has flourished. Is this an omen of the winter to come?
Pat Ruch, Chicago
Dear Pat,
Folklore has it that when squirrels are seen busily gathering large stores of nuts or other winter supplies, then a harsh winter lies ahead.
Research, however, provides no documented evidence that squirrels (or any animals) can predict future weather. Experts from a wide range of disciplines agree that animal behavior, even when it is unusual or uncharacteristic, is a response to past or current weather and not based on predictive ability. Veterinarian Dean Hutsell suspects you are dealing with aggressive squirrels merely taking advantage of the bounty of your garden.
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Tom Skilling is chief meteorologist at WGN-TV. His forecasts can be seen Monday through Friday on WGN-TV News at noon and 9 p.m.
Write to: ASK TOM WHY, 2501 Bradley Pl., Chicago, IL 60618 or asktomwhy@wgntv.com (Mail volume precludes personal response.)
WGN-TV meteorologists Steve Kahn, Richard Koeneman and Paul Dailey plus weather producer Bill Snyder contribute to this page.
