Creatures of the night
It's that time of year again in the desert — hot days and cool nights.
Many desert animals wait out the heat of the day in shade or underground. Some are active at dawn or dusk (crepus-cular), and others strictly at night (nocturnal), to take advantage of cooler temperatures and moister air. They must be able to find food and keep away from predators in the dark. Some animals have these things to help them get around in the dark:
● Big eyes.
● Very good hearing and sense of smell.
● Whiskers to feel their way in the dark.
Creatures such as coyotes, bats and owls aren't the only ones out in the desert at night. From June through August, the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum stays open till 10 p.m. for Summer Saturday Evenings.
People are also reading…
There will be close encounters with desert night life, docent presentations and special events.
After 5 p.m., admission is $5 for adults and $2 for children under 12. Read the Clip 'n' Save to see how you can get in free!
George L. Mountainlion
Keep reading BYOBrain throughout the year, with George L. Mountainlion's kid-friendly column on desert and environmental topics running each month.
Color this page and present it at the Desert Museum's ticket window on any Summer Saturday Evening (after 5 p.m.) for a free child's admission!
Here are some of June's special events.*
June 9: Family Astronomy Night, 6-9 p.m.
June 16: Native American storyteller Gerard Tsonakwa, 7:30-8:30 p.m.
June 23: Live and "Sort of" on the Loose Venomous Reptile Presentation, 7-8 p.m.; Bear Awareness Night, 6-9 p.m.
June 30: Celebrating Pollination Night, 6-9 p.m.
* Schedules and locations vary. Visit www.desertmuseum.org for further information.