I frequently get questions like, “Is it safe to walk at night?” or “Will an animal come out of the woods and bite me?” I never say it can or can’t happen with Mother Nature, but the odds are extremely good in your favor. They may make scary noises but that’s about it. The following critters are around at night and are not listed in any order. They can also be seen at dawn and dusk.
Common Raccoon – These masked marauders are mostly seen at night scurrying away from you at speeds of up to 15-mph. They are primarily found in the woods or near water. If you hike trails after some rain, you will undoubtedly see their tracks in the mud. The only time they might confront you would be if the parent has some babies in tow. The babies are very cute, but please don’t try to pick one up, because momma will get very mad.
Virginia Opossum – These guys get a bad rap and are called “possums” by some. Possums are actually a different species. They are nice to have close by, because they love to eat ticks and things you don’t want around. If startled, they will play possum (acting like they are dead) so you won’t bother them. They don’t use their tails to hang from trees. They do use their prehensile tail as another leg when in the trees. The female gives birth to about 30 babies who crawl into her pouch. She only has 13 teats. The lucky ones connect themselves to mom for several weeks. At about three months old, the babies crawl onto mom’s back for another month or so.
Nine-Banded Armadillo – These critters have a habit of getting into your gardens and lawns and act like a rototiller, making a mess of things. They are after ants, grubs, and tender plant shoots and will also eat frogs, crayfish, and small snakes. When frightened, they curl up into a ball for safety. Their upper bodies have a bony plate like armor (nine bands) for protection. They do not see very well but have a pretty good nose for finding food under the dirt. Mom has quintuplets born around March. Its home is a round hole in the ground, not an oval entrance like the Gopher Tortoise.
Striped Skunk – Just like up north where they are more prevalent, if you see one, turn around to avoid being sprayed. The spray is pretty accurate up to about 13-feet. I have not seen a live one here in Florida for 20 years. They are secretive and rarely seen. They eat insects, rodents, eggs, and garbage and are seen in the woods near woodpiles.
“Rabbits”– We have two species here in Florida – the Eastern Cottontail and the Marsh Rabbit. Both are about the same size. The Marsh Rabbit is a bit browner with shorter ears and a brown tail. The Eastern Cottontail in Florida is a bit greyer and smaller than its northern cousin but does have the big bushy white tail seen when bounding away. They are a favorite food for some predators and have a density cycle of about 10 to 12 years. Their population grows rapidly until the predators’ population grows, and then it goes down until the predators move out. The peak was a few years ago. Predators are bobcats, coyotes, eagles, hawks, and owls.
Common Grey Fox – Rarely seen in the Burnt Store area, they are around 15-inches- tall. They are seen more east of I-75. Like the Red Fox up north, they eat rabbits, rodents, birds, fruits, and berries.
Coyote – With a height around 25-inches, they look like a large German Sheppard. They are becoming more tolerant of people and are now in most communities. Their food source is similar to the fox, eating rodents, rabbits, and berries, and they can run about 30 to 40-mph. When communicating with their “pack” of kids, they can be heard yelping, howling, or barking. They are shy animals and will run away from humans. However, the same cannot be said for your pet wandering around alone at night.
Bobcat – They are about 20-inches-high compared to a panther who is 30-inches-high and 8-feet-long, and they have a 10-inch-long tail compared to a panther’s tail, which is almost 2-feet-long. Many people who see a tall male bobcat think they have seen a Florida Panther, but there are only a handful of panthers north of the Caloosahatchee River – and most of those are in central Florida.
Bobcats are in our neighborhoods and are becoming accustomed to our human housing developments. I have typically seen them very early in the morning near wooded areas. My animal spy camera has picked them up several times. They are very good at catching rabbits. Mom has her two youngsters in late spring.
Feral Pigs, Bears and Panthers – That’s for another story!
As you can see, we have many night living critters around us, which at first may sound scary. But remember, all of them would much rather flee from humans. Most nature photographers, like me, have trouble finding these critters of the night as we carefully, skillfully, and silently try to photograph them.
Please always keep your pets on a leash, day and night, and enjoy Burnt Store nature on your walk.
Bill Kimber, Florida Master Naturalist
