[NAGDU] Pets Can Suffer From Eclipse Blindness, and So can Our Guides!

[Danielle Ledet]

This is an article posted by the husband of Sue Martin, whom you all
know from the unfortunate recent airline incident.
http://www.ajc.com/events/pets--animals/how-will-your-pets-react-the-solar-eclipse/YaSNIjqnqgkro0vzW7XPsM/
Pets can suffer "eclipse blindness." One thing we do have in common
with our pets is that human, canine and feline eyes can all suffer
from "eclipse blindness" when safe precautions are not taken during
the eclipse viewing. During the eclipse, as the moon's shadow starts
to block the sun's light, some of the sun's fiery disk will still be
visible, according to LiveScience.com . A view of that light can
literally burn any eyes, human or cat or dog, that look up at it.
RELATED: A solar eclipse can blind you — here’s how to stay safe
during August’s Great American Eclipse
 The condition, commonly called "eclipse blindness," happens when the
sun's powerful rays burn sensitive photoreceptor cells in the retina.
It usually results in blurred vision and other vision loss instead of
complete blindness, since humans and animals ordinarily turn away
before complete blindness occurs.
Pet's don't necessarily need glasses, but it wouldn't hurt.
Space.com's safe viewing recommendations for humans include proper eye
protection from NASA-approved eclipse glasses, along with strict
warnings against trying to view the partial eclipse with a camera or
telescope.
Whether your dog or cat also needs the glasses is up for debate in the
scientific community. Mike Reynolds, an astronomy professor at
Floriday State College in Jacksonville, Florida, told LiveScience.com
that it's best to outfit pets who will be out during the eclipse with
protective glasses.
 Another expert quoted in the article wasn't as concerned. "On a
normal day, your pets don't try to look at the sun, and therefore
don't damage their eyes," said Angela Speck, director of astronomy and
a professor of astrophysics at the University of Missouri. "And on
this day, they're not going to do it, either,"
Animal lovers can help with worldwide research. While it's unlikely
that your dog or cat will have a remarkable reaction to the Great
American Eclipse, pet lovers might enjoy observing how animals in the
wild or even the neighborhood do unusual things. Previous eclipses
worldwide have involved reports of night birds singing, bats flying,
spiders tearing down webs or owls calling, according to a report in
the Southern Illinoisan.
 But because total solar eclipses are so infrequent, scientists have
little beyond anecdotal evidence of animal behavior, Rebecca Johnson,
citizen science research coordinator at the California Academy of
Sciences in San Francisco, told the paper.
 To remedy the dearth of research, the academy created a "Life
Responds" project where citizens all over the world download the
iNaturalist app from Apple or Android platforms and document the plant
and animal reactions they see during the eclipse.
 To join in the fun, download the iNaturalist app, make an account and
practice making observations
-- 
How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young,
compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving and
tolerant of the weak and strong. Because someday in your life you will
have been all of these.
George Washington Carver
Email: singingmywayin at gmail.com