Which animals come out at night?

With winter creeping in, you may not have to wait late into the night to catch a glimpse of species that prefer the dark.

Otter

Otters are particularly busy at dawn or dusk.

Due to their thick, waterproof fur and blubber, otters can withstand harsher weathers and remain active all year round, regardless of season. They also don’t have a set breeding window, so their behaviours don’t change dramatically throughout the year.

Deer

Generally more active early in the morning or as evening falls, deer are adaptable and can change their activity patterns if needs be.

These grand creatures become more visible in the winter, largely due to sparser trees and bushes exposing their whereabouts. Some, like roe deer, usually spend time alone during the warmer months, but gather together to form small groups when winter hits in order to share heat and resource.

Fox

With excellent night vision, foxes are able to hunt well in the dark. This, combined with their preference to avoid humans in urban areas, means that they’re drawn to evenings.

Some of their food sources, like insects, worms and small mammals, are more prominent at night.

Owl

Like foxes, most owl species find greater success in hunting their prey at night. As they are nocturnal, they will utilise the longer, darker evenings to their benefit.

Their expert hearing allows them to detect the movement of small mammals, such as mice and voles, even beneath snowy surfaces.