When the rest of the world is fast asleep,Nocturnal creatures start to creep.A whole other world comes alive at night.Want to learn more? Just shine your light!
Nature’s Night Life
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Cricket Crickets thrive in warm  climates around the world.  With their strong back  legs, some can leap 60  times their body length. Fun fact: Crickets make  their chirping noise by  rubbing their wings  together. Their wings have  comb-like teeth that grate against each other.
Do you hear that chirp chirp sound?See me leap across the ground!I am a . . .
Do you hear that chirp chirp sound?See me leap across the ground!I am a . . .
My bumps aren’t warts, they’re toxic glands. Don’t touch! They’ll irritate your hands. I am a . . .
Toad You might see  toads during the  day, but they’re  most active at  night. True toads  belong to the  Bufonidae family.  They live natively  on every continent  except Australia  and Antarctica. Fun fact: Toads  are technically a  species of frog.
My bumps aren’t warts, they’re toxic glands. Don’t touch! They’ll irritate your hands. I am a . . .
Keep your chickens locked up tight! I yelp and hunt all through the night. I am a . . .
Coyote Coyotes are native to  North America. The first  European settlers thought  they might be jackals or a  type of wolf. They adapt to  all sorts of environments— even cities! They hunt birds  and rodents. They might  even eat leftovers from  your trash. Fun fact: “Old Man Coyote”  is the main character in  many Native American  folktales.
Barn owl Barn owls have  strong night  vision. They  swoop down to  catch small  animals in the  dark. They often  live in man-made  spaces. Hence  the “barn” in  “barn owl.” Fun fact: Barn  owls can fly in near total silence.
I’m the bird farmers like best. I help them hunt for tiny pests! I am a . . .
See me flapping in the sky, the only mammal that can fly! I am a . . .
Bat Over 1,400 species  of bat exist worldwide. That’s nearly 20 percent  of all mammals! The  Mexican free-tailed bat  can fly at nearly 100  miles per hour. That  makes it one of the  world’s fastest animals. Fun fact: “Blind as a  bat” isn’t actually blind  at all. Many bats can  see quite well.
Luna Moth These pale green moths  typically reach up to 4 ½   inches in wingspan. Like  all moths, they start as  caterpillars. After leaving  the cocoon, they live for  about one week.  Fun fact: Adult luna  moths don’t eat. They  have no mouths and  no digestive systems.
Like a moonbeam taking flight, I drift gently through the night. I am a . . .
Raccoon Raccoons are found  across North America.  They often live near cities  and eat scraps left behind  by humans. But don’t get  too friendly. They’re one of  the most likely species to  carry rabies. Fun fact: Raccoons often  appear to “wash” their food  before eating. Most likely,  they actually do this to  help them feel and identify  their food.
I don’t steal gems, I don’t steal cash, My thieving hands just want your trash! I am a . . .
Skunk You can find striped skunks  across North and South America.  They’re most famous for their  unique defense mechanism—a  stinky spray called musk! The  smell can stick to skin and  clothes for days. Fun fact: Perfume-makers often  use ingredients from skunk musk  to make their scents last longer.
Don’t get close, for I can spray from up to 12 whole feet away! I am a . . .
I’m no housecat, I’m not tame! You might know me by many names. I am a . . .
Mountain Lion Despite their name,  mountain lions don’t roar.  They roam North and  South America. You  may know these big cats  as cougars, pumas,  catamounts, or panthers.  They can grow up to  nine feet long and usually  live alone. Fun fact: Mountain lions  hold the Guinness World  Record for mammal with most names.