Study suggests toads can detect coming earthquakes

Researchers from the Open University were studying the impact of lunar patterns on toads when they noticed a sharp decline in numbers. Days later, a 6.3-magnitude earthquake hit, killing hundreds of people and badly damaging the town of L'Aquila.
The number of pairs at the site fell to zero three days before the quake, according to the study, published Wednesday in the Journal of Zoology.
Lead author Rachel Grant said the findings suggested that toads can detect changes such as the release of gases or charged particles that foretell an earthquake.