With green, leaf-shaped wings, this relative of crickets and grasshoppers avoids daytime predators by hiding high in the treetops, where it feeds on leaves. When: Red bats feed in the early evening hours any time the temperature rises above 50 degrees. Where: Statewide in forests, along the edge of woodlands, and near hedgerows. When dusk falls, search the sky for their flickering silhouettes. Look: During the day, you might spot a red bat hanging by one foot in dense foliage. At night, they fly off to eat lots of insects. They spend their days hanging alone from tree branches. These medium-sized bats don’t cluster in caves like many other bats. When: Skunks come out in the evening and early morning hours, usually resting at night and sleeping during the day. Where: Forest borders, brushy field corners, fencerows, and open grassy fields near water statewide. If you meet a skunk, give it plenty of room, and it will do the same for you. Before spraying, skunks usually stamp their feet and hold their tail high in the air. When threatened (or hit by a car), they produce a strong scent from glands at the base of the tail. Look and Smell: Skunks follow their noses as they hunt and scavenge for insects, small rodents, and dead animals. ![]() This fluffy, cat-sized mammal has a big bushy tail and two white stripes along its back. It takes that long for your eyes to adjust to darkness. It’s best to settle down quietly in one place for 20–30 minutes. When you find a good place to stop, you can use the items and sit on the bag. Be comfortable - Wear sturdy shoes, and carry a canvas bag with insect repellent, a water bottle, and snacks. ![]() Take along an audio recorder for catching night sounds. Try covering the lens with red plastic wrap fastened with a rubber band. Be equipped - Bring a flashlight with fresh batteries.Be Safe - Scout your observation area with a hiking buddy in the daytime.You Discover Nocturnal AnimalsĪ Mini Field Guide to Critters That Work The Night Shift Tips for Watching Wildlife at Night Some snakes and spiders detect vibrations or body heat to locate their prey. Pressure on sensitive whiskers, fur, feathers, and paw pads helps them navigate in the dark. Night creatures also use touch to gather information. Their noses detect information about nearby food, possible mates, and lurking predators (or wildlife watchers). Most mammals can smell far better than humans. But nighttime predators also have exceptional hearing. Nocturnal prey animals like mice have large ears to detect the approach of predators. In the dark, sharp ears can make the difference between life and death. This layer also creates “eye shine” - when an animal’s eyes reflect light in the dark. Third, they have a mirrorlike layer behind the retina that makes objects seem brighter at night. Second, their eyes have more rod cells that allow them to detect shapes, movement, and detail in dim light. Three special eye adaptations help nocturnal animals see in the dark. Grab a grown-up and a flashlight, and take this guide outside at night to spot and ID what you see.Staple the cutouts together along the middle between pages 8 and 9. ![]() Stack the cutouts so the pages are in numerical order.Cut out the next two pages along the dotted lines.Ask an adult to take a walk with you when the sun goes down to see, hear, and maybe even smell some of Missouri’s creatures of the night. Nighttime is a great time to explore nature. They escape our notice if we don’t know what to look and listen for. They find food, mate, raise their young, defend their territories, and escape predators between dusk and dawn. ![]() When the sun goes down, many animals (like us humans) go to sleep for the night.
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