How My Wooly Bear Caterpillar Predicts Maine’s Chilly Winter

Sometimes folklore can truly have some hidden meanings, so if you are in to it like I am, you are probably not going to like the following information.

But you can at least take it as a warning in order to prepare.

Here we go.

The other day, I was outside with my son, Bentley. We had just been for our afternoon walk with the dog around the neighborhood when we were doing our “plant check.” He helps me check my Hostas to see how they are growing.

And to what do our wondering eyes appear but a wooly bear caterpillar inching its way across a large rock! Bentley and I adore these little guys because they are like little stuffed animals. Their bodies are a mix of fuzzy black and brown bands.

But what caught my attention immediately was the unusually thick black band at its head.

In 2023, an article was put out by WGME stating there is folklore behind how thick the bands are on these little guys that could predict the upcoming winter weather.

According to the article, the folklore says that the wooly bear caterpillar can predict winter weather, and a thick black head is often considered a warning: a cold, bitter start to winter might be on the way.

We crouched down for a closer look and the thick black band stretched from the head nearly halfway down its body before turning brown in the middle.

According to legend, this black thick band suggests that the start of winter will be harsh with cold snaps, icy roads, and early snowstorms. If that is in store, this doesn’t make us happy. However, at least we got a warning, right? If the black band on the caterpillar’s head is any clue, we might want to brace for an early winter.

Even though science tells us that the wooly bear’s coloration is more about its environment than weather forecasting, I couldn’t help but feel a butt load of goosebumps in anticipation.

If you are more a science meteorological type of mine, Farmers' Almanac predicts a wet and wild winter for Maine in 2024-2025, with a "Wet Winter Whirlwind" of crazy storms bringing rain and snow, according to News Center Maine.

So I may not be that off in my caterpillar prediction!

Whether the caterpillar’s prediction comes true or not, its thick black head has certainly given me something to think about as the winter months approach.

For now, we will be keeping a watchful eye on the skies, waiting to see if this little creature’s warning comes to life.