It’s springtime (apparently), and spring means change. Flowers are blooming, grass is growing, and the whole world is coming back to life. The primary agent of this change is rain. Before spring turns into summer, it’s going to rain a lot. Everything is going to have to adapt, especially the animals that are just waking up from their long winter sleep. As you might expect, when animals have to adapt to something unexpected, you’ll have to adapt to them. As animals in your neighborhood scramble to get out of the rain, you may run across them in a variety of unusual places. Here’s where animals run off to when it rains, and why that might matter to you.
Higher Ground
Rainfall causes miniature flooding all the time. Natural trenches, gutters, lowlands, burrows, and riverbanks collect rainfall and fill up in no time. It might not have a significant effect on our day-to-day, but it can be a serious problem for animals. Lots of animals, like snakes, skunks, raccoons, chipmunks, and more tend to live in areas that flood easily. Obviously, they can’t stick around when their home is under water, so they head for flood-resistant, elevated areas nearby. What exactly “higher ground” refers to here differs depending on the animal in question. Squirrels, for instance, tend to run up trees and huddle under leaves for cover. Birds and bats roost on high tree branches close to the trunk, where they can stay dry. Animals who can’t access trees may simply wander away from flooded areas like riverbanks. When that happens, they may wander closer to human settlements. Keep a close eye out for refugee animals when it rains, especially if you live near water.
Underground
While some animals have to seek cover when it rains, others make their own cover. A wide variety of animals live in dug-out burrows all year round. When rain falls, burrowing animals may respond by simply building out their burrows. By digging at upward or curving angles, animals can prevent their burrows from completely flooding. Then, they simply wait out rain storms from the comfort of their homes, just like we do.Raccoons, skunks, mice, rabbits, badgers, and moles are just a few of the many animals that may burrow in rain. This could affect you in a number of ways. First, burrowing animals may uproot or otherwise damage parts of your lawn by digging through them. Second, they could inadvertently damage structures or property by digging in close proximity. Finally, they might even accidentally dig their way under, near, or into your home!
Natural Cover
A lot of animals aren’t lucky enough to be able to climb or dig their way out of trouble. Instead, these animals need to hunker down in whatever they can find. They’ll slide under logs or other debris, sidle under roots or rocks, or even creep under porches and decks. Once they’ve found cover, they’ll stick around until either it stops raining or they need to eat. Obviously, animals who need to find cover become a concern when they decide to use cover around your home. Rodents, opossums, groundhogs, and other animals may sneak under siding, porches, decks, or other cover around your home. Once they’re nearby, some of these animals may seek out food sources near your home, too. Be especially mindful of animals around your trash cans during and shortly after rainy days. Animals may seek outdoor dumpsters especially, since they can use them for food and shelter at the same time.
Your House!
Up until now we’ve discussed secondary reasons why rain might create pest problems for you. Unfortunately, however, secondary causes aren’t your only concern. Some animals (rightfully, to be fair) deduce that your home is a perfect place to wait out storms. It works for you, after all! Mice and rats, snakes, and even squirrels may try to sneak into your home during rain. While some of these pests may leave when the sun comes back out, some won’t!Luckily, animals use the same tricks to get into your home when it’s raining as they always do. They usually look for openings around siding, foundation, baseboards, shingles, chimneys, and vents. Once they’re inside they’ll seek out dark, hidden, dry, and warm places where they can stay safe and unnoticed. Keeping them out means taking the same proactive measures you always take. A properly-defended home is a home that animals can’t use to get out of the rain.Don’t feel too bad for animals stuck out in the rain. Remember: no matter how long it rains or how heavy that rain is, life finds a way to persevere. The animals around your neighborhood are going to be just fine, even if they can’t impose on you this spring.If you find out you’ve accidentally been harboring some rain escapees this spring, give Varment Guard a call anytime. We’re always prepared to find your pests and kick them back out into the rain. Stay dry!
FAQs
Most terrestrial animals do seek shelter. In nature, that can happen in tree or log holes, under rocks or leaves, or underground. Smaller animals like squirrels and mice will huddle together in such shelters, attempting to stay warm. Rain seems to annoy most species, however, even aquatic animals.
What happens to animals in the rain? ›
Many animals choose to seek refuge during a big downpour and hunker down under the cover of vegetation. Rainy, windy conditions do however favour predators when hunting as their scent is masked and it is harder for prey species to hear them as the sound of the raindrops falling muffles out the sound of their approach.
Do animals go out in the rain? ›
While some animals such as frogs and toads relish the rains (and in some cases are triggered by rainfall to mate), others such as songbirds and raptors usually lie low. The feathers of these birds weigh more than their skeleton so if they get drenched, they are unable to fly.
How do animals survive heavy rain? ›
Burrowing animals will plug their entrance holes with dirt when it rains, and they dig their tunnels downwards and then up to prevent water from pouring directly into their burrows. They may even build in sumps in their burrows, creating low areas that capture water to keep the rest of the living space safe and dry.
Where do raccoons go when it rains? ›
Raccoons, Foxes, Mice, Rabbits, and other small mammals: Mammals that live underground will hide in their dens. They construct dens so they will not flood, which lets wildlife shelter at home during a heavy storm. Some small mammals hide in logs.
Where do squirrels go when it's raining? ›
Squirrels don't often stray too far from their nest, but if food is scarce, the creatures may venture further away to find food for their babies. If it starts to rain while the squirrel is foraging, it may take shelter in any man-made structure it can find. Female squirrels don't often stay in these structures long.
Where do birds and squirrels go when it rains? ›
If they sense an approaching storm, they tend to forage more, often coming to feeders for the easiest source of food. When bad weather hits, birds generally seek shelter from wind and rain in dense shrubs or thickets, next to heavy tree trunks, and on the downwind side of woods and forests.
Where do coyotes go when it rains? ›
“We've found that coyotes usually seek shelter during the rains. They enlarge rodent burrows, make shelter in dense vegetation, or sometimes they find shelter in concrete pipes.”
Where do deer go when it rains? ›
Light to moderate rain has very little effect on deer and they go about their business in the same manner as they would on a sunny day. Heavy rains or thunderstorms will cause deer to bed down in a sheltered area of some kind. Any high winds, rain or not, will also discourage their movement.
What do squirrels do during storms? ›
They place their nests where the tree provides extra support, such as in the crook where multiple branches meet or inside a cavity. These shelters are durable, and squirrels can hunker down in them and wait out the storm. When the weather isn't quite so rough, they may go about their business.
Some bats keep flying in a light drizzle, but they take shelter when there's serious rain. A new study published online today in Biology Letters finds one reason why: Bats have to work harder to fly when their fur and wings are wet.
What time do squirrels wake up? ›
When the sun is intense and sunny, squirrels are most active in the morning and evening during the summer and fall. They are more active as the days grow longer. They get up half an hour after the sun rises in the morning and begin their day.
Where do birds and squirrels go during a storm? ›
They Take Shelter
Woodpeckers and chickadees are among some of the birds that will find holes in trees while other animals seek refuge in cavernous rocks or nooks and crannies offered by man-made structures. If they are burrowers, such as moles, badgers, groundhogs, and some squirrels and snakes, they head underground.
Do possums come out in the rain? ›
Nightly possum detections decreased significantly with rain and increasing mean temperature. Possums were almost exclusively nocturnal, with most terrestrial activity earlier in the evening in winter and later at night in summer. During longer nights, higher temperatures also delayed activity.
What do animals do in thunderstorms? ›
But what do wild animals do? If they can, they may seek shelter under trees or rocks. And if not, they turn their backs to the wind and wait it out, as they have no other choice. In a forest, the most likely target for lightning is going to be a tree.
How do squirrels stay dry when raining? ›
Squirrels, for instance, tend to run up trees and huddle under leaves for cover. Birds and bats roost on high tree branches close to the trunk, where they can stay dry. Animals who can't access trees may simply wander away from flooded areas like riverbanks.
How do animals survive freezing rain? ›
Many animals also have physiological adaptations to survive extreme winter conditions, according to Kays. Some of those traits include growing a thicker coat of fur or adding layers of fat to insulate themselves against the cold.
What happens to cats in the rain? ›
Cats hate a wet coat
Some say that cats first evolved in arid desert environments, so they're just not well adapted to the rain. Cat fur is also less waterproof than a dog's fur. Whatever the reason, your cat is unlikely to be delighted by being drenched by a downpour while caught out in a storm.
What animals come out when it's raining? ›
To name a few; deer, elk, bears, moose, wolves, coyotes, bobcats, lynxes, cougars, ducks, geese, birds of prey, thrushes, most game birds, and most rodents will go out into a rainstorm, if they need to in order to eat and drink. In fact, domesticated animals do, too.
What happens to dogs when it rains? ›
Additionally, the sound of the rain can be overwhelming and scary to some dogs, making them feel anxious or stressed. Some dogs may have had negative experiences in the rain, such as getting lost or being outside for too long in a storm, which can cause them to associate rainy weather with fear and discomfort.
Rainfall causes miniature flooding all the time. Natural trenches, gutters, lowlands, burrows, and riverbanks collect rainfall and fill up in no time. It might not have a significant effect on our day-to-day, but it can be a serious problem for animals. Lots of animals, like snakes, skunks, raccoons, chipmunks, and more tend to live in areas that flood easily. Obviously, they can’t stick around when their home is under water, so they head for flood-resistant, elevated areas nearby. What exactly “higher ground” refers to here differs depending on the animal in question. Squirrels, for instance, tend to run up trees and huddle under leaves for cover. Birds and bats roost on high tree branches close to the trunk, where they can stay dry. Animals who can’t access trees may simply wander away from flooded areas like riverbanks. When that happens, they may wander closer to human settlements. Keep a close eye out for refugee animals when it rains, especially if you live near water.
While some animals have to seek cover when it rains, others make their own cover. A wide variety of animals live in dug-out burrows all year round. When rain falls, burrowing animals may respond by simply building out their burrows. By digging at upward or curving angles, animals can prevent their burrows from completely flooding. Then, they simply wait out rain storms from the comfort of their homes, just like we do.Raccoons, skunks, mice, rabbits, badgers, and moles are just a few of the many animals that may burrow in rain. This could affect you in a number of ways. First, burrowing animals may uproot or otherwise damage parts of your lawn by digging through them. Second, they could inadvertently damage structures or property by digging in close proximity. Finally, they might even accidentally dig their way under, near, or into your home! 
A lot of animals aren’t lucky enough to be able to climb or dig their way out of trouble. Instead, these animals need to hunker down in whatever they can find. They’ll slide under logs or other debris, sidle under roots or rocks, or even creep under porches and decks. Once they’ve found cover, they’ll stick around until either it stops raining or they need to eat. Obviously, animals who need to find cover become a concern when they decide to use cover around your home. Rodents, opossums, groundhogs, and other animals may sneak under siding, porches, decks, or other cover around your home. Once they’re nearby, some of these animals may seek out food sources near your home, too. Be especially mindful of animals around your trash cans during and shortly after rainy days. Animals may seek outdoor dumpsters especially, since they can use them for food and shelter at the same time.
Up until now we’ve discussed secondary reasons why rain might create pest problems for you. Unfortunately, however, secondary causes aren’t your only concern. Some animals (rightfully, to be fair) deduce that your home is a perfect place to wait out storms. It works for you, after all! Mice and rats, snakes, and even squirrels may try to sneak into your home during rain. While some of these pests may leave when the sun comes back out, some won’t!Luckily, animals use the same tricks to get into your home when it’s raining as they always do. They usually look for openings around siding, foundation, baseboards, shingles, chimneys, and vents. Once they’re inside they’ll seek out dark, hidden, dry, and warm places where they can stay safe and unnoticed. Keeping them out means taking the same proactive measures you always take. A properly-defended home is a home that animals can’t use to get out of the rain.Don’t feel too bad for animals stuck out in the rain. Remember: no matter how long it rains or how heavy that rain is, life finds a way to persevere. The animals around your neighborhood are going to be just fine, even if they can’t impose on you this spring.If you find out you’ve accidentally been harboring some rain escapees this spring, give Varment Guard a call anytime. We’re always prepared to find your pests and kick them back out into the rain. Stay dry!