Will the solar eclipse affect animals? Veterinarians share pet safety tips for the 2024 show
CBSN
With around 180 million people living in or near the 2024 solar eclipse path of totality, many pet owners may be wondering how the eclipse may impact animal behaviors and how their pets might react.
Veterinarians said they've been fielding questions from some concerned pet owners about the eclipse's impact on animals. Ultimately, there isn't a clear answer for pet owners because eclipses happen so infrequently. Researchers do plan to watch animal reactions during the April eclipse to learn more about how it affects animals.
"There's not a lot of scientific research done on this topic of animals and eclipses mostly because they don't come often," said American Kennel Club Chief Veterinary Officer Dr. Jerry Klein. "And a lot of it's just been anecdotal reports and just volunteering information."
An American Airlines jet with 60 passengers and four crew members aboard collided with an Army helicopter Wednesday night while coming in for a landing at Ronald Reagan National Airport near Washington. The Black Hawk helicopter was carrying a crew of three. Officials said early Thursday that everyone on board both aircraft is believed dead, which would make it the deadliest U.S. air crash in nearly a quarter century.