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Wildlife After Dark

Some animals sleep during the day and are active at night. It’s not always easy to find these creatures, but you can make some come to you.

moth RGB What you need:

What you do:

Make a “moth magnet.” Roll the white tissue paper and insert it into the glass jar. Place the jar on the ground and put a lit flashlight in its mouth. Moths will soon be attracted to this outdoor lamp. Have your child draw pictures of the different kinds of moths that come by.
Chat with a firefly. Did you know that every species of firefly has its own signal? Each species flashes in a certain pattern to advertise for mates. If you see one, try to imitate the number and rhythm of flashes in its signal with the mini-flashlight. With luck, the firefly will fly over to you and your child.
Listen carefully. Even if you can’t spot all the nocturnal animals, you can hear many of them. Show your child how to cup his or her hands behind the ears to push them forward. Explain that he or she now has deer or rabbit ears that make sounds louder.

What creatures can your child hear?

Chirping and buzzing: crickets and katydids
Whining: mosquitoes (Grab the repellent!)
Long bird song, each phrase repeated three or more times: a mockingbird
Hooting: great horned owls or barred owls
Croaking or peeping: frogs
Blood-curdling screams: fighting raccoons or cats; fox calling for a mate
Yipping, barking, or howling: coyotes, but near your backyard, perhaps just neighborhood dogs