20 Earthly Signs of a Harsh Winter Ahead

1.Thicker than normal corn husks

2.Woodpeckers sharing a tree

3.Early arrival of the Snowy owl

4.Early departure of geese and ducks

5.Early migration of the Monarch butterfly

6.Thick hair on the nape (back) of the cow’s neck

7.Heavy and numerous fogs during August

8.Raccoons with thick tails and bright bands

9.Mice eating ravenously into the home

10.Early arrival of crickets on the hearth.

11.Spiders spinning larger than usual webs and entering the house in great numbers

12.Pigs gathering sticks

13.Insects marching a bee line rather than meandering

14.Early seclusion of bees within the hive

15.Unusual abundance of acorns

16.Muskrats burrowing holes high on the river bank

17.“See how high the hornets nest, ‘twill tell how high the snow will rest”

18.Narrow orange band in the middle of the Woollybear caterpillar warns of heavy snow

19.The squirrel gathers nuts early to fortify against a hard winter

20.Frequent halos or rings around sun or moon forecast numerous snow falls.