Nocturnal Adaptations and Dark Skies
Life in the forest doesn’t stop when the sun sets. In fact, for many creatures, it's just the beginning!
Nocturnal animals thrive during the night and crepuscular animals are most active in twilight, the early morning before sunrise and/or the early evening after sunset.
Crepuscular animals can be further divided into three groups:
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Matutinal animals are most active at predawn, and include animals such as coyotes and deer
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Vespertine animals are most active at dusk, such as moths and bats
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Bimodal crepuscular animals fall into both or change back and forth depending on seasons
All of these animals have evolved incredible adaptations which heighten one or more of their senses to navigate their environments without the bright light of day to guide them.
Their lives are closely tied to the natural rhythms of the night sky, but artificial lighting is disrupting this delicate balance. Light pollution not only threatens these species but also has detrimental effects on human health and contributes to climate change. Continue reading to explore the fascinating nocturnal wildlife of the Ozarks and the vital role dark skies play in their survival.
Some Crepuscular and Nocturnal Animals in the Ozarks:
Owl Facts
Owls have exceptional vision, up to seven times clearer than that of humans. Their large eyes are so prominent that their heads cannot support the muscles needed to move them, so instead, owls can rotate their heads 270 degrees to compensate.
The leading edge of an owl’s wing is lined with specialized fringed feathers, allowing them to alter airflow for nearly silent flight. This enables owls to fly within inches of their prey without being detected.
Most owl species also have asymmetrical ears, providing them with highly refined, three-dimensional hearing.
Owl Species in the Ozarks:
Eastern Screech-Owl: These small owls, only 6-10 inches tall (roughly the size of a robin), are non-migratory and mate for life.
Image: "Eastern Screech Owl" by btrentler is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
Bat Facts
Bats are the primary predators of night-flying insects, with a single bat capable of eating over 1,000 insects per hour, totaling thousands each night.
While not fully blind, most bats have poor eyesight and rely on echolocation to hunt and navigate. They emit ultrasonic sounds and interpret the returning echoes to identify insects and navigate their surroundings. Bats also play a crucial role in pollinating night-blooming flowers.
Bat Species in the Ozarks:
Tricolored Bat: The smallest bat species in the Ozarks, it is easily identified by its red wing membrane contrasting with black forearms.
Image: "Tri-colored bat" by USFWS/Southeast is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
White-Nose Syndrome
White-nose syndrome has devastated bat populations in recent years. Caused by the cold-loving fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans, it attacks hibernating bats in caves, leaving a distinctive white, fuzzy growth around their muzzles. The fungus irritates the bats, causing them to wake up during hibernation and deplete their fat reserves, often leading to death.
Efforts to combat this disease include closing caves to the public, exploring natural bacteria treatments, altering hibernation conditions to slow fungal growth, and developing vaccines to boost bat resistance.
How to Help Stop White-nose Syndrome
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Avoid entering bat hibernation areas.
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Disinfect clothes, shoes, and gear if entering caves.
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Support organizations fighting white-nose syndrome.
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Educate others on the importance of bats and their ecological role.
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Build bat boxes and plant bat-friendly gardens to support bats in the summer.
Image: "Bat showing symptoms of White-nose Syndrome" by U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Northeast Region is marked with Public Domain Mark 1.0
Raccoon Facts
Raccoon Facts
The Northern Raccoon is the species of raccoon found in the Ozarks, living around five years and weighing between 14-30 pounds. Their distinctive black “mask” and ringed tails make them easily recognizable.
A common misconception is that raccoons “wash” their food. In reality, they wet their food to enhance their sense of touch, as they gather two-thirds of their sensory information through their paws.
While raccoons don’t have opposable thumbs, their hands have hairless pads and fingers similar to humans, giving them great dexterity.
Raccoons are agile and resilient, capable of surviving falls of up to 40 feet and running speeds of up to 15 mph. Though carnivorous by classification, they are opportunistic omnivores and frequently scavenge in trash.
Image: "DSC_0302" by tracie7779 is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
Opossum Facts
The Virginia Opossum, the only marsupial in North America, is recognizable by its white-gray fur, pink nose, and pink tail. Baby opossums are born hairless and sightless, with many not surviving the journey from birth to their mother’s pouch.
Opossums, originally native to tropical regions, have migrated north over time but are vulnerable to frostbite during winter due to their hairless ears and tails.
Opossums help control insect and tick populations and groom themselves regularly. They are omnivores, eating primarily small rodents, insects, worms, slugs and snails, frogs, and birds. They also eat vegetables, berries, nuts, fruits, and scavenged food, including garbage. When threatened, they may “play possum,” faking dead, a defense mechanism in which they fall unconscious and emit a foul odor to deter predators.
Image: "Virginia opossum (didelphis virginiana) babies" by CaliforniaDFW is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
Firefly Facts
There are over 2,000 species of fireflies, which are technically beetles, as evidenced by their hard wing coverings called elytra.
Fireflies produce light through a process called bioluminescence, which all firefly species exhibit as larvae, though not all glow as adults.
Each firefly species has a distinct flashing pattern used by females to attract mates. Some females of the Photuris genus mimic the flashes of other species to lure and eat unsuspecting males.
Fireflies use a chemical called luciferin to produce light, which also acts as a defense mechanism against predators. Ingesting even a small amount can be toxic to other insects and potentially humans.
Image: "firefly 8823" by art farmer is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
Dark Skies and Light Pollution
Light pollution, a byproduct of urban society, alters outdoor light levels from their natural state. Sky glow, the brightening of the night sky due to artificial light, affects 80% of the world’s population, and 99% of those in Europe and the U.S. cannot experience a natural night sky.
Light pollution disorients baby sea turtles, drawing them away from the ocean, and confuses migrating birds, often causing fatal collisions or mistimed migrations.
Insects drawn to artificial lights die, disrupting ecosystems, while research suggests that artificial light also impacts human health by contributing to obesity, diabetes, and other diseases.
To combat light pollution, reduce outdoor lighting, use soft white bulbs pointed downward, and shield lights to minimize sky glow. LED lights, despite being energy-efficient, have been shown to contribute more to sky glow than traditional lights because most people use much higher powered lights than necessary (or arguably healthy).
Image: from Dark Sky Arkansas
Additional Resources
Nocturnal Animals:
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Would you survive as a nocturnal animal? – Test your skills and learn more about nocturnal creatures like the northern raccoon.
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Learn about bats in Arkansas – Discover fascinating facts about the bat species found in Arkansas.
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Strange and surprising facts about opossums – Explore the unusual behaviors and adaptations of the opossum.
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Creatures of the night – Meet more of the nocturnal animals that call the Ozarks home.
White-Nose Syndrome:
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Arkansas Game & Fish Commission White-Nose Syndrome Info – Learn about white-nose syndrome and how you can report sightings of infected bats.
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White-Nose Syndrome Decontamination Guidelines – Guidelines on how to decontaminate gear to prevent the spread of white-nose syndrome.
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How You Can Help – Find out what you can do to help protect bats from white-nose syndrome.
Dark Sky:
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What is light pollution? – Understand light pollution and its effects on wildlife and humans.
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Dark Sky viewing sites in Arkansas – Explore dark sky viewing locations in Arkansas for stargazing.
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Dark Sky Arkansas – A resource for learning more about the dark sky movement in Arkansas.