Book 21, Question 130
Do Cows and Deer Really Face North and South?
In 2008, some scientists made a surprising claim. They said cows and deer might line up north and south when they graze or rest. Scientists use the word replicate for repeating an experiment.
More fun facts
- Using Google Earth, scientists checked 8,510 cattle in 308 pastures on six continents.
- The cattle tended to face north or south while grazing or resting.
- Red and roe deer did the same, and their heads tended to point north.
- Where magnetic north differs from true north, the cattle lined up with magnetic north.
- Near high-voltage power lines, the herds stood facing random directions.
Sources: Scientific American, National Geographic
Questions kids ask
Why do power lines confuse cows?
High-voltage power lines give off strong magnetic fields of their own, so the cows stop lining up north and south.