Creatures That Prowl at Night

After the sun goes down, certain animals come out to prowl. Nocturnal animals are those that are primarily active at night, taking advantage of the darkness to hunt. Highly developed senses give nocturnal animals the ability to see, hear and smell prey that would be invisible to diurnal, or day-dwelling, animals. Nocturnal adaptations arise for many different reasons, the most common being as a way to procure prey or, ironically, to avoid predation.

  1. Raccoon

    • Raccoons (Procyon lotor) are one of the most common nocturnal animals found prowling in U.S. suburban neighborhoods. Highly adaptable and inquisitive, raccoons pose a problem due to their lack of fear when it comes to foraging for food, using trash cans as a pantry. Growing to 30 inches in length and weighing as much as 20 lbs., they are known for their distinctive mask-like facial markings and ringed tail. Unlike many other nocturnal animals, the raccoon's most well-developed sense is its sense of touch. Their vision is poor and is of far less importance than touch, smell and hearing.

    Opossum

    • Shy and solitary, opossums (Didelphis virginiana) use their nocturnal abilities in order to stealthily procure food and avoid predators. Found across the United States, they are common culprits behind nighttime noises, as they infiltrate attics to nest and overturn trash cans to find food. Although their vision is poor, opossums possess a highly developed sense of smell and hearing. Small and heavy-bodied, they are the only species of marsupial in the Western hemisphere.

    Gray Fox

    • Although less often seen than other night prowling animals, the gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) is a common nocturnal predator across the United States. It is one of two species of dog capable of climbing trees and structures. Small and agile, the gray fox retreats to a den during daylight hours, emerging only at night to hunt. Despite having cat-like eyes that feature a vertical pupil, their eyesight is poor, and they rely on scent and hearing to hunt. Although human interactions are rare, they are known to prey on small pets that are left out at night.

    Long-Tailed Weasel

    • Long-tailed weasels (Mustela frenata) are solitary nocturnal predators found in every part of the contiguous United States. Typically found in rural areas, long-tailed weasels are known for occasionally feeding on small farm animals and domestic pets. Their bodies are characteristic of the genus, having a long, slender build with reddish-brown fur and a black-tipped tail. Solitary and territorial, long-tailed weasels hunt primarily by scent, which they use to locate and infiltrate the burrows of nesting animals.