The world is full of strange and unexpected events, but few have captured the imagination and bewilderment of people like the phenomenon known as a “rain of animals,” including yesterday’s revelation that it had rained worms in China.
Seriously, read more about that here.
The phenomenon is an insane happening involves the sudden and seemingly inexplicable descent of live or dead animals from the sky, often accompanied by rain, hail, or strong winds.
While some skeptics dismiss these reports as myths or hoaxes, there is enough evidence and eyewitness testimony to suggest that rain of animals is a real and puzzling happening that defies conventional explanations.
Fish rain in Sri Lanka (2014)
In May 2014, residents of a village near the city of Chilaw in Sri Lanka reported a heavy pour of small fish that covered the ground and roofs of houses. The fish, identified as tilapia, were still alive and jumping when they fell, and some locals collected them in buckets and bags. The fish storm lasted for about an hour and was attributed to a waterspout that lifted the fish from a nearby river or lake and carried them overland.
Source here.
Spiders rain in Brazil (2013)
In February 2013, the town of Santo Antônio da Platina in southern Brazil was invaded by a massive swarm of spiders that seemed to fall from the sky. The spiders, identified as Anelosimus eximius, a social species that lives in communal webs, covered trees, buildings, and roads with their silky webs and thousands of tiny spiderlings. Although the spiders were harmless to humans, many locals were frightened and confused by the surreal scene. The cause of the spider downpour is unclear, but some scientists suggest that it may have been triggered by a migration or dispersal event.
Source here.
Frogs rain (twice) in Rákóczifalva, Hungary (2010)
In Rákóczifalva, Hungary, there have been two documented instances of raining frogs. The first occurred on June 18, 2010, when residents reported hearing a loud noise, followed by a sudden downpour of frogs. A few days later, on June 20, 2010, it happened again, with hundreds of frogs falling from the sky. Scientists believe that the phenomenon was caused by a tornado that lifted the frogs from their natural habitat and carried them over a distance before dropping them in Rákóczifalva. The incident was extensively covered in the media and remains one of the most well-known instances of raining frogs.
Source here.
Worms rain in Jennings, Louisiana (2007)
On July 11, 2007, a strange downpour of earthworms occurred in Jennings, Louisiana, that left many people scratching their heads. According to eyewitnesses, the precipitation started around 11 pm and lasted for several minutes, depositing hundreds of wriggling worms on the pavement and sidewalks. The worms, which were identified as red wigglers, a common composting species, were still alive and moving when they fell. The cause of the worm precipitation remains a mystery, but some locals speculated that it might be a sign of impending doom or a prank by aliens.
Source here.
Birds rain in Arkansas (2011)
On January 1, 2011, thousands of blackbirds fell from the sky in Beebe, Arkansas, in a sudden and shocking incident that stunned residents and experts alike. The birds, identified as red-winged blackbirds, European starlings, and brown-headed cowbirds, littered the streets, lawns, and rooftops of the town, and some were still alive and flapping when they landed. The cause of the bird preecipitation was initially attributed to fireworks or weather-related stress, but later investigations suggested that the birds might have been frightened by loud noises or disoriented by a sudden weather change and collided with buildings, power lines, or each other.
Source here.
Jellyfish rain in Bath, England (1894)
One of the earliest recorded instances of rain of animals dates back to August 14, 1894, when a shower of jellyfish fell on the city of Bath in England. The jellyfish, which were identified as Velella velella, a species of hydroid that floats on the surface of the sea, were scattered on the streets, gardens, and even on the hats and clothes of unsuspecting pedestrians. The cause of the jellyfish precipitation is unknown, but it may have been related to a strong wind or a waterspout that lifted them from the Bristol Channel and carried them inland.
Source here.
Tadpoles rain in Ishikawa, Japan (2009)
In June 2009, the town of Nanao in Ishikawa prefecture, Japan, experienced a strange rain of tadpoles that fell from the sky and landed on roofs, cars, and streets. The tadpoles, which were identified as the common toad species Bufo japonicus, were still alive and squirming when they landed.
Source here.
Fish rain in Lajamanu, Australia (2010)
In February 2010, the remote town of Lajamanu in the Australian Outback experienced a bizarre rain of fish that fell from the sky and landed on the streets and roofs of houses. The fish, which were identified as spangled perch, a freshwater species, were still alive when they landed and caused confusion and excitement among the locals.
Source here.
Spiders rain in Goulburn, Australia (2015)
In May 2015, the town of Goulburn in New South Wales, Australia, was hit by a creepy rain of spiders that blanketed the town and its outskirts with their webs and bodies. The spiders, which were identified as the wolf spider species Lycosa sp., were not harmful to humans but created an eerie and surreal landscape. The cause the spider rain is not known, but it may have been related to a migration event or a sudden wind gust that lifted them
Source here.
Octopuses and starfish rain in Qingdao, China (2018)
In Qingdao, Shandong Province, China, on June 13, 2018, there were reports of a strange rain that included various marine animals, including octopuses, seashells, and starfish. The incident occurred after a heavy thunderstorm, and local residents were surprised to find the marine creatures scattered on the streets and rooftops.
Source here.
Needlefish rain in Marksville, Louisiana (1947)
On October 23, 1947, the town of Marksville, Louisiana, experienced a strange and unusual occurrence of raining fish. Witnesses reported seeing hundreds of fish falling from the sky during a sudden rainstorm. The fish were identified as a species of freshwater fish known as “needlefish” and ranged in size from just a few inches to over a foot long. The incident gained national attention and was investigated by the US Weather Bureau, who concluded that the fish had been swept up by a waterspout or tornado and then carried over 20 miles before being released during the rainstorm. The raining fish of Marksville remains one of the most well-known examples of this phenomenon in the United States.
Source here.
Why does it rain animals, though?
One theory suggests that water spouts and tornadoes, which are powerful and turbulent air currents, can lift up animals from their habitats and carry them into the atmosphere. Once in the sky, these animals are transported by the wind until they are eventually released back to the ground as precipitation.
The event of rain of animals, while still rare and mysterious, has been documented in various parts of the world and involves a wide range of species, from birds and fish to jellyfish and spiders. Although the causes of these strange events are not always clear, scientists and researchers continue to study them as a fascinating and unusual aspect of nature.