Jamie Carter is a freelance journalist and regular Live Science contributor based in Cardiff, U.K. He is the author of A Stargazing Program For Beginners and lectures on astronomy and the natural world. Jamie regularly writes for Space.com, TechRadar.com, Forbes Science, BBC Wildlife magazine and Scientific American, and many others.
When about half of the sun's bright face is covered by the moon's shadow, the light levels begin to drop noticeably. During the totality phase of a total solar eclipse, when all of the sunlight is blocked, the light levels crash. Suddenly, it's like nighttime during the day — and this eerie phenomenon has just as big of an effect on wildlife as it does on humans.
Some animals act strangely, while others simply go into nighttime mode. Diurnal animals, which are active during the day and sleep at night, prepare for bedtime, while nocturnal animals become active during totality. It's hard to predict how animals will react during the April 8 total solar eclipse, but there are plenty of ways to share the experience with them.
Several zoos and wildlife sanctuaries have organized events where visitors can observe how animals react to sudden changes in light and temperature. It's a unique opportunity, and those who attend should remain quiet. Animals are easily disturbed by loud noises, and you won't be able to tell the difference between their reactions to the sounds and their reactions to the eclipse.
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