Toads appear to be able to sense an impending earthquake and will flee their colony days before the earthquake happens.

The evidence comes from a group of toads which left their breeding colony three days before an earthquake struck L’Aquila in Italy in 2009.

It is hard to study how animals respond to earthquakes. One reason for this is because earthquakes are rare and unpredictable. Some studies have been done on how domestic animals respond, but measuring the response of wild animals is more difficult.

RIVETED SWIVELING CHITTERING EPICENTER FAULTLINE SEISMOGRAPH AFTERSHOCK TREMOR

TIRADE CONTORTED METRONOME LICKETY-SPLIT FAULT OUTBURST GLOWERED

Place where earthquake starts

A machine that records earthquakes

Mechanical timer for music

Weak places and cracks in Earth’s crust

More unstable section of Earth’s crust.

Chirping sound

Smaller earthquake that follows a big one

Earthquake synonym As fast as possible Frowned angrily Stared at an object Angry outburst Twisted, grotesque Turning on