'Old-School' Signs That Indicate a Harsh Winter Ahead. Go Home Muskrats

Sometimes you have to put away all the modern technology to get the real answers. Many folks will say you simply have to watch and listen to nature to get an accurate look at what's to come. If you look at the latest models using technology, this coming winter looks like it could be brutally cold. (See below)

Have you heard of these earthly indicators to tell if we are in for a harsher-than-normal winter?

Thicker than normal corn husks
Woodpeckers sharing a tree
Early arrival of the Snowy owl
Early departure of geese and ducks
Early migration of the Monarch butterfly
Thick hair on the nape (back) of the cow’s neck
Heavy and numerous fogs during August
Raccoons with thick tails and bright bands
Mice eating ravenously into the home
Early arrival of crickets on the hearth
Spiders spinning larger than usual webs and entering the house in great numbers
Pigs gathering sticks
Insects marching a bee line rather than meandering
Early seclusion of bees within the hive
Unusual abundance of acorns
Muskrats burrowing holes high on the river hank
“See how high the hornet’s nest, ‘twill tell how high the snow will rest”
Narrow orange band in the middle of the Woollybear caterpillar warns of heavy snow
The squirrel gathers nuts early to fortify against a hard winter
Frequent halos or rings around sun or moon forecast numerous snow falls