Storm Team of Aquarium Animals
| Groundhogs and Other Animals
with Weather Folklore
Chattanooga Chuck, the Tennessee Aquarium’s groundhog, is one of the many animals visitors have a chance to meet up close in Ranger Rick’s Backyard Safari. Most people are familiar with the groundhog’s story – If he sees his shadow on February 2nd, there will be six more weeks of winter. If not, an early spring is expected. But many visitors may be surprised to discover that both Aquarium buildings are home to dozens of creatures with weather proverbs touting their forecasting skills. Stingrays, sharks, catfish, trout and even butterflies have sayings related to their ability to predict atmospheric changes. |
| Do screech owls really hoot before it rains? Can parrots foretell a storm? Will frogs call more loudly before showers? Our experts have taken a look at many of the weather proverbs related
to Chattanooga Chuck’s “Storm Team of Aquarium Animals” to see which
tales are weather fact, weather fun or weather fiction. Throughout
February, guests can learn more about these sayings during animal
presentations in Ranger Rick’s Backyard Safari, dive shows, keeper talks
and gallery chats.
Before or after your next Aquarium visit, check out
these weather proverbs and what our animal experts have to say about
their accuracy. |
| Thanks to the following Tennessee Aquarium staff members: Christine Bock, lead horticulturist, Dave Collins, curator of forests, Kevin Calhoon, assistant curator of forests, Susie Grant, senior educator, Bill Haley, education outreach coordinator, Bethany Lloyd, outreach educator, Rob Mottice, senior aquarist, Charlene Nash, horticulturist and Jennifer Taylor, entomologist. They helped evaluate the weather proverbs. |