{"id":12244,"date":"2021-11-24T11:14:15","date_gmt":"2021-11-24T11:14:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/?p=12244"},"modified":"2021-11-25T09:17:35","modified_gmt":"2021-11-25T09:17:35","slug":"creatures-of-the-night","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/2021\/11\/24\/creatures-of-the-night\/","title":{"rendered":"Creatures of the Night"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">The hours of darkness reveal a fascinating cast of characters in the natural world, as many animals are active primarily or exclusively at night.\u00a0Nocturnal photography presents particular challenges for the photographer, but also offers great rewards.<\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Many creatures are captured by both still and video photography as they hunt, feed, drink, court and breed at night. Here we explore some of our most intriguing images and clips of creatures of the night, revealing a wealth of fascinating behaviour.<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-1' class='gallery gallery-12244 style-standard'><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01388037-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Northern raccoon (Procyon lotor) young at night climbing live Oak tree (Quercus virginiana) Dinero, Lake Corpus Christi, South Texas, USA.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01388037-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01388037-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01388037-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01388037-768x511.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01388037.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01388037-600x399.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01388037-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01388037-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01388037-375x249.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01388037-900x599.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01388037-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Northern raccoon (Procyon lotor) young at night climbing live Oak tree (Quercus virginiana) Dinero, Lake Corpus Christi, South Texas, USA.\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01554320-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01554320-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01554320-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01554320-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01554320-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01554320.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01554320-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01554320-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01554320-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01554320-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01554320-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01554320-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Ocelot at night. camera trap image,  Costa Rica.\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01315131-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Adult and young Wild boars (Sus scrofa) searching for food at night on a street in Barcelona, Spain\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01315131-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01315131-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01315131-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01315131-768x511.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01315131.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01315131-600x399.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01315131-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01315131-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01315131-375x249.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01315131-900x599.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01315131-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Adult and young Wild boars (Sus scrofa) searching for food at night on a street in Barcelona, Spain\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01357708-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01357708-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01357708-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01357708-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01357708-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01357708.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01357708-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01357708-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01357708-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01357708-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01357708-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01357708-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Brown rat in vaulted building. Germany.\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01303582-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01303582-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01303582-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01303582-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01303582-768x511.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01303582.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01303582-600x399.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01303582-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01303582-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01303582-375x249.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01303582-900x599.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01303582-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"European rabbits at night in urban park near l&#039;Arc de Triomphe, with Champs Elys\u00e9es in background, Paris, France.\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01670915-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Male melanistic leopard (Panthera pardus) at night, under a starry sky. Laikipia Wilderness Camp, Kenya. Photographed with a camera trap.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01670915-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01670915-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01670915-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01670915-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01670915.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01670915-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01670915-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01670915-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01670915-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01670915-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01670915-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Male melanistic leopard (Panthera pardus) at night, under a starry sky. Laikipia Wilderness Camp, Kenya. Photographed with a camera trap.\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01562858-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Plains zebra (Equus quagga) drinking at waterhole at night, Zimanga private game reserve, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, September\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01562858-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01562858-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01562858-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01562858-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01562858.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01562858-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01562858-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01562858-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01562858-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01562858-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01562858-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Plains zebra (Equus quagga) drinking at waterhole at night, Zimanga private game reserve, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, September\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01677849-1-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Female Red fox (Vulpes vulpes) walking along tree trunk in heavy fog at night. Light source behind the subject creates dramatic volumetric lighting. Vertes Mountains, Hungary.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01677849-1-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01677849-1-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01677849-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01677849-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01677849-1.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01677849-1-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01677849-1-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01677849-1-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01677849-1-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01677849-1-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01677849-1-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Female Red fox (Vulpes vulpes) walking along tree trunk in heavy fog at night. Light source behind the subject creates dramatic volumetric lighting. Vertes Mountains, Hungary.\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .gallery -->\n\n<h2>The Safety of Darkness<\/h2>\n<p>Many species, such as leopards, are active primarily at night in areas where they live close to humans, as darkness offers protection from persecution. And much urban wildlife, such as rats, foxes and even wild boar and deer, emerges from daytime hiding places to take advantage of the quieter nocturnal hours to find the plentiful food often offered by towns and cities.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/-4G-pQWE5NI\" width=\"1200\" height=\"700\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><span style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><span style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe>\n<p>Fireflies (actually beetles, not flies!) are just one example of many animals which use bioluminescence to communicate in darkness. The males use the light to attract a mate and each species has a different &#8220;flash pattern&#8221;. In fact, firefly bioluminescence is an incredibly efficient light, since almost 100% of the energy produced by the chemical reaction is emitted as light.<\/p>\n<h2>Bats, Moths and Owls<\/h2>\n<p>Certain groups of animals adapted for nocturnal life &#8211; such as bats, moths and owls &#8211; have attracted undeserved fears and superstitions, due to human fear of darkness and the unknown. Modern photographic techniques reveal the beauty and superb adaptations of these animals&#8230;<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-2' class='gallery gallery-12244 style-scrollingstrip'><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"684\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_00644556.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Moth flying at night, Huron Meadows Metropark, Michigan\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_00644556.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_00644556-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_00644556-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_00644556-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_00644556-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_00644556-600x401.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_00644556-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_00644556-320x214.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_00644556-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_00644556-900x601.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_00644556-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Moth flying at night, Huron Meadows Metropark, Michigan\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Moth flying at night, Huron Meadows Metropark, Michigan<\/strong> by Steve Gettle<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon portrait'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"699\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01276371.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Barn owl {Tyto alba} flying to tower carrying rodent prey, UK\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01276371.jpg 699w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01276371-102x150.jpg 102w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01276371-300x439.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01276371-320x469.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01276371-375x549.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01276371-600x879.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01276371-72x106.jpg 72w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Barn owl {Tyto alba} flying to tower carrying rodent prey, UK\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Barn owl {Tyto alba} flying to tower carrying rodent prey, UK<\/strong> by Stephen Dalton<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"829\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01276363.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Greater false vampire bat {Megaderma lyra} in flight, carrying rodent prey, controlled conditions, from Asia\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01276363.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01276363-150x121.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01276363-300x243.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01276363-768x622.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01276363-320x259.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01276363-375x304.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01276363-600x486.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01276363-900x729.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01276363-131x106.jpg 131w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Greater false vampire bat {Megaderma lyra} in flight, carrying rodent prey, controlled conditions, from Asia\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Greater false vampire bat {Megaderma lyra} in flight, carrying rodent prey, controlled conditions, from Asia<\/strong> by Stephen Dalton<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"760\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01288710.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01288710.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01288710-150x111.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01288710-300x223.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01288710-768x570.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01288710-320x238.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01288710-375x278.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01288710-600x445.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01288710-900x668.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01288710-143x106.jpg 143w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Barn owl in flight<\/strong> by Stephen Dalton<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon portrait'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"758\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01276436.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Long eared bat {Plecotus auritus} flying towards moths attracted to light from paraffin lamp, UK\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01276436.jpg 758w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01276436-111x150.jpg 111w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01276436-300x405.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01276436-320x432.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01276436-375x507.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01276436-600x811.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01276436-78x106.jpg 78w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Long eared bat {Plecotus auritus} flying towards moths attracted to light from paraffin lamp, UK\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Long eared bat {Plecotus auritus} flying towards moths attracted to light from paraffin lamp, UK<\/strong> by Stephen Dalton<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon portrait'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"857\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01669135.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Black witch moth (Ascalapha odorata) in flight, Venezuela. This large moth has a 7 inch wingspan. Wingscales being shed during flight.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01669135.jpg 857w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01669135-126x150.jpg 126w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01669135-300x358.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01669135-768x918.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01669135-320x382.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01669135-375x448.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01669135-600x717.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01669135-89x106.jpg 89w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Black witch moth (Ascalapha odorata) in flight, Venezuela. This large moth has a 7 inch wingspan. Wingscales being shed during flight.\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Black witch moth (Ascalapha odorata) in flight, Venezuela. This large moth has a 7 inch wingspan. Wingscales being shed during flight.<\/strong> by Stephen Dalton<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01647935.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Orange nectar bat (Lonchophylla robusta) feeding on Little clamshell orchid (Prosthechea cochleata), lowland rainforest, Costa Rica. November.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01647935.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01647935-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01647935-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01647935-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01647935-470x470.jpg 470w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01647935-600x600.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01647935-800x800.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01647935-320x320.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01647935-375x375.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01647935-900x900.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01647935-106x106.jpg 106w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Orange nectar bat (Lonchophylla robusta) feeding on Little clamshell orchid (Prosthechea cochleata), lowland rainforest, Costa Rica. November.\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Orange nectar bat (Lonchophylla robusta) feeding on Little clamshell orchid (Prosthechea cochleata), lowland rainforest, Costa Rica. November.<\/strong> by Guy Edwardes<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01647059.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Male Comet Moth (Argema mittrei). Mantadia National Park, eastern Madagascar.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01647059.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01647059-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01647059-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01647059-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01647059-470x470.jpg 470w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01647059-600x600.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01647059-800x800.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01647059-320x320.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01647059-375x375.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01647059-900x900.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01647059-106x106.jpg 106w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Male Comet Moth (Argema mittrei). Mantadia National Park, eastern Madagascar.\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Male Comet Moth (Argema mittrei). Mantadia National Park, eastern Madagascar.<\/strong> by Nick Garbutt<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01297041.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Barn Owl (Tyto alba) flying over the castle of Vulci (IX-XII century) Vulci archaeological and nature park, Lazio, Italy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01297041.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01297041-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01297041-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01297041-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01297041-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01297041-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01297041-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01297041-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01297041-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01297041-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01297041-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Barn Owl (Tyto alba) flying over the castle of Vulci (IX-XII century) Vulci archaeological and nature park, Lazio, Italy\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Barn Owl (Tyto alba) flying over the castle of Vulci (IX-XII century) Vulci archaeological and nature park, Lazio, Italy<\/strong> by Angelo Gandolfi<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01459274.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"California myotis (Myotis californicus) in flight, Rogue River National Forest, Oregon, USA, August.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01459274.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01459274-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01459274-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01459274-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01459274-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01459274-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01459274-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01459274-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01459274-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01459274-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01459274-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"California myotis (Myotis californicus) in flight, Rogue River National Forest, Oregon, USA, August.\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>California myotis (Myotis californicus) in flight, Rogue River National Forest, Oregon, USA, August.<\/strong> by Michael Durham<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01466916.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"African Scops Owl (Otus senegalensis) on the ground at night, South Luangwa National Park, Zambia. January.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01466916.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01466916-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01466916-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01466916-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01466916-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01466916-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01466916-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01466916-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01466916-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01466916-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01466916-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"African Scops Owl (Otus senegalensis) on the ground at night, South Luangwa National Park, Zambia. January.\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>African Scops Owl (Otus senegalensis) on the ground at night, South Luangwa National Park, Zambia. January.<\/strong> by Piotr Naskrecki<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .gallery -->\n\n<h2>Looking for a story about nocturnal wildlife?<\/h2>\n<p>We have a wealth of features on the creatures of the night, which are available for publication. Click on the links below to explore more stories of nature at night.<\/p>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/stock-photo\/rescued-and-orphaned-grey-headed-flying-fox-(pteropus-poliocephalus)-in\/gallery-10023-10861-10687-0\/detail-0_01631240.html\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-12305\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01631240-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01631240-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01631240-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01631240-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01631240.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01631240-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01631240-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01631240-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01631240-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01631240-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01631240-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01631240-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>Night Gardeners<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/-stories\/feature-stories\/the-night-gardeners.html\">Night Gardeners<\/a> featuring the work of Doug Gimesy reveals the vital role that Australia&#8217;s flying foxes play in pollinating trees.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/stock-photo\/pelagic-blanket-octopus-(tremoctopus-gracilis)-female-in-full-display-off\/gallery-10023-10904-10721-0\/detail-0_01649598.html\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-12304\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01649598-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"401\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01649598-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01649598-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01649598-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01649598.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01649598-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01649598-600x401.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01649598-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01649598-320x214.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01649598-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01649598-900x601.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01649598-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>Night Ocean<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/-stories\/feature-stories\/night-ocean.html\">Night Ocean<\/a> celebrates the unique and bizarre creatures that are rise from the ocean floor to feed in the darkness, with amazing images from Magnus Lundgren.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/-stories\/feature-stories\/after-hours.html\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-12301\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01484817-300x199.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"398\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01484817-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01484817-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01484817-768x510.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01484817.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01484817-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01484817-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01484817-375x249.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01484817-600x398.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01484817-900x598.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01484817-160x106.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>After Hours<\/h2>\n<p>Eric M\u00e9dard has spent 25 years developing soundproofed infra-red camera equipment, allowing him to photograph wildlife at night. Working mostly in woodland close to his home, his feature <a href=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/-stories\/feature-stories\/after-hours.html\">After Hours<\/a> reveals rare glimpses of\u00a0 creatures too shy to see during the day.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/stock-photo\/sleeping-african-elephants-(loxodonta-africana)-two-adults-and-offspring\/gallery-10023-885-854-0\/detail-0_01308634.html\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-12307\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01308634-300x194.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"387\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01308634-300x194.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01308634-150x97.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01308634-768x496.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01308634.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01308634-320x207.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01308634-375x242.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01308634-600x387.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01308634-900x581.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01308634-164x106.jpg 164w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>Night Life<\/h2>\n<p>With the aid of light-enhancing, heat-seeking technologies, film production company Ammonite has developed innovative night-vision cameras that reveal the previously unseen <a href=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/-stories\/feature-stories\/night-life.html\">Night Life<\/a> of animals from around the world.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>As hippos emerge from the water to graze in the cooler night hours, they become vulnerable to attack by lions. This video clip from Ammonite, using infra-red technology,\u00a0 shows a group of sub-adult lions in Kenya pursuing a mother hippo and her calf.<\/p>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/LuiWGil-mKc\" width=\"1200\" height=\"700\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><span style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/stock-photo\/a-long-exposure-renders-bar-jacks-(carangoides-ruber)-as-ghostly-trails-as\/search\/detail-0_01443436.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-12270\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01443436-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01443436-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01443436-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01443436-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01443436-470x470.jpg 470w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01443436-600x600.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01443436-800x800.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01443436-320x320.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01443436-375x375.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01443436-900x900.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01443436.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01443436-106x106.jpg 106w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><\/h3>\n<h3><\/h3>\n<h2>Opportunities for Creative Techniques<\/h2>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>By using slow shutter speeds and interesting lighting\u00a0 (including the natural light of the moon), photographers use mood and atmosphere to enhance images showing the nocturnal behaviour of animals on land, in the air and beneath the waves. Alex Mustard&#8217;s amazing, spooky image using a long exposure to reveal the ghostly trails of fish around a sponge in the Cayman Islands won him the main prize in the European Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition in 2013.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-3' class='gallery gallery-12244 style-standard'><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01661699-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Moths (Lepidoptera) with flight trails, attracted to light during insect trapping and identification session. Long-term monitoring in De Kaaistoep Nature Reserve, Tilburg, The Netherlands. June.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01661699-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01661699-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01661699-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01661699-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01661699.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01661699-600x401.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01661699-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01661699-320x214.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01661699-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01661699-900x601.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01661699-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Moths (Lepidoptera) with flight trails, attracted to light during insect trapping and identification session. Long-term monitoring in De Kaaistoep Nature Reserve, Tilburg, The Netherlands. June.\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01612932-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Alcedo giant tortoises (Chelonoidis vandenburghi) group resting in water on moonlit night to keep cool, Alcedo Volcano, Isabela Island, Galapagos\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01612932-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01612932-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01612932-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01612932-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01612932.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01612932-600x401.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01612932-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01612932-320x214.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01612932-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01612932-900x601.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01612932-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Alcedo giant tortoises (Chelonoidis vandenburghi) group resting in water on moonlit night to keep cool, Alcedo Volcano, Isabela Island, Galapagos\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01633694-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"European mantis (Mantis religiosa) hunting swarming Pale burrower mayfly (Ephoron virgo), mayflies recently hatched. Tudela, La Ribera de Navarra, Navarre, Spain. August.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01633694-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01633694-1024x684.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01633694-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01633694-510x340.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"European mantis (Mantis religiosa) hunting swarming Pale burrower mayfly (Ephoron virgo), mayflies recently hatched. Tudela, La Ribera de Navarra, Navarre, Spain. August.\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01615365-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"School of Munk&#039;s devil ray, pygmy devil ray, (Mobula munkiana), feeding on plankton at night, photographed on a long exposure, Espiritu Santo Island, Sea of Cortez, Baja California, Mexico, East Pacific Ocean\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01615365-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01615365-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01615365-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01615365-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01615365.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01615365-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01615365-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01615365-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01615365-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01615365-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01615365-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"School of Munk&#039;s devil ray, pygmy devil ray, (Mobula munkiana), feeding on plankton at night, photographed on a long exposure, Espiritu Santo Island, Sea of Cortez, Baja California, Mexico, East Pacific Ocean\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01413046-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Boulder star coral (Montastraea annularis) spawning at night with released bundles of eggs and sperm floating away in the water column, East End, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, British West Indies, Caribbean Sea.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01413046-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01413046-150x99.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01413046-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01413046-768x509.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01413046-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01413046-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01413046-320x212.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01413046-160x106.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Boulder star coral (Montastraea annularis) spawning at night with released bundles of eggs and sperm floating away in the water column, East End, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, British West Indies, Caribbean Sea.\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .gallery -->\n\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/MgYioQ3PVkI\" width=\"1200\" height=\"700\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe>\n<p>The hours of darkness witness some of nature&#8217;s most spectacular events, such as this mass emergence of mayflies in Spain. Night-flying insects are often attracted to artificial light, which disturbs their natural behaviour and also can make them more vulnerable to predators such as geckos and mantids.<\/p>\n<h2>Unique Creatures of the Night<\/h2>\n<p>The <strong>aye-aye<\/strong> from Madagascar is the largest nocturnal primate and has a unique hand structure, with an extended third digit adapted to locate and extract insect grubs. The <strong>swallow-tailed gull<\/strong> from the Galapagos archipelago is the only nocturnal gull, with eyes adapted to hunt squid at night. The douroucouli or <strong>night monkey<\/strong> is the only truly nocturnal monkey, emerging to forage at night and typically spending the day hiding in the safety of a tree cavity. The night monkey has monochrome vision and is most active when the moon is full.<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-4' class='gallery gallery-12244 style-scrollingstrip'><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01574463.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01574463.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01574463-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01574463-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01574463-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01574463-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01574463-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01574463-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01574463-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01574463-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01574463-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01574463-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Aye-aye active in forest canopy at night. Madagascar.\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Aye-aye at night<\/strong> by Nick Garbutt<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon portrait'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01482642.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01482642.jpg 683w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01482642-100x150.jpg 100w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01482642-300x450.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01482642-320x480.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01482642-375x562.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01482642-600x900.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01482642-71x106.jpg 71w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Swallow-tailed Gull at night, Galapagos Islands.\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Swallow-tailed gull<\/strong> by Ross Hoddinott<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"688\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_00141689.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_00141689.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_00141689-150x101.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_00141689-300x202.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_00141689-768x516.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_00141689-320x215.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_00141689-375x252.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_00141689-600x403.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_00141689-900x605.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_00141689-158x106.jpg 158w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Swallow-tailed Gull departs at dusk to feed far offshore, Galapagos Islands.\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Swallow-tailed gull in flight<\/strong> by Tui De Roy\/Minden<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon portrait'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01592412.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01592412.jpg 683w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01592412-100x150.jpg 100w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01592412-300x450.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01592412-320x480.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01592412-375x562.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01592412-600x900.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01592412-71x106.jpg 71w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Three Spix&#039;s night monkeys looking out of a hole in a tree trunk, Ecuador.\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Night monkeys hiding in tree cavity<\/strong> by Lucas Bustamante<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"681\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_00554636-1.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_00554636-1.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_00554636-1-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_00554636-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_00554636-1-768x511.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_00554636-1-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_00554636-1-600x399.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_00554636-1-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_00554636-1-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_00554636-1-375x249.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_00554636-1-900x599.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_00554636-1-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Black-headed Night Monkey at night, Peru.\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Night monkey at night<\/strong> by Thomas Marent\/Minden<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .gallery -->\n\n<h2>Camera Traps and the Challenge of Finding Nocturnal Animals<\/h2>\n<p>Terry Whittaker tells us about the difficulty of capturing this pine marten shot. &#8220;Whether it\u2019s in a Scottish forest or an urban garden, at night a hidden world of nocturnal animals becomes active. Although I enjoy being outdoors at night, it\u2019s almost impossible to photograph wildlife without the help of technology. I prefer to use remote cameras to capture natural behaviour of the shy animals that are out and about in the darkness without disturbing them.<\/p>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/INgeVOen1Ps\" width=\"1200\" height=\"600\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe>\n<p>The challenge is knowing where they are likely to be. With forest animals like pine martens it\u2019s particularly difficult. They do make use of trails made by badgers and deer so I set camera traps along these. To film them in the trees I find a place where martens are making use of feeder boxes put out for squirrels and place my cameras on the routes I think they will take to and from these. Of course, the cameras sometimes have to be out for weeks on end to capture anything worthwhile but on the days I check them, it\u2019s quite a buzz to find out I have captured some interesting behaviour.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>Explore More&#8230;<\/h2>\n<p>You can explore more great images of nocturnal wildlife in our new <a href=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/concepts\/concepts\/creatures-of-the-night.html\">Creatures of the Night gallery<\/a> and for more great clips, take a look at our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/playlist?list=PLRsWFwjFhIjfo05xWCfVDKdqsOvb1cPeG\">Youtube Creatures of the Night playlist<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-5' class='gallery gallery-12244 style-scrollingstrip'><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_00123054.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Timber Wolf (Canis lupus) under moonlit sky, Northwoods, Minnesota\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_00123054.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_00123054-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_00123054-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_00123054-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_00123054-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_00123054-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_00123054-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_00123054-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_00123054-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_00123054-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_00123054-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Timber Wolf (Canis lupus) under moonlit sky, Northwoods, Minnesota\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Timber Wolf (Canis lupus) under moonlit sky, Northwoods, Minnesota<\/strong> by Jim Brandenburg<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon portrait'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"755\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01276466.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Brown rat {Rattus norvegicus} backlit, night, controlled conditions, UK\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01276466.jpg 755w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01276466-111x150.jpg 111w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01276466-300x407.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01276466-320x434.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01276466-375x509.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01276466-600x814.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01276466-78x106.jpg 78w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Brown rat {Rattus norvegicus} backlit, night, controlled conditions, UK\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Brown rat {Rattus norvegicus} backlit, night, controlled conditions, UK<\/strong> by Stephen Dalton<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01581208.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius) at waterhole at night, Mkuze, South Africa\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01581208.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01581208-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01581208-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01581208-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01581208-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01581208-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01581208-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01581208-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01581208-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01581208-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01581208-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius) at waterhole at night, Mkuze, South Africa\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius) at waterhole at night, Mkuze, South Africa<\/strong> by Bence Mate<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01422702.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01422702.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01422702-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01422702-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01422702-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01422702-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01422702-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01422702-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01422702-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01422702-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01422702-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01422702-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Spectral Tarsier (Tarsius tarsier) jumping on a grasshopper, Tangkoko National Park, North Sulawesi, Indonesia\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Spectral tarsier catching grasshopper<\/strong> by Juergen Freund<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01534050.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Aardvark (Orycteropus afer) fighting in the dark. Makgadikgadi Pans, Botswana. January\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01534050.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01534050-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01534050-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01534050-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01534050-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01534050-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01534050-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01534050-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01534050-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01534050-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01534050-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Aardvark (Orycteropus afer) fighting in the dark. Makgadikgadi Pans, Botswana. January\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Aardvark (Orycteropus afer) fighting in the dark. Makgadikgadi Pans, Botswana. January<\/strong> by Will Burrard-Lucas<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"684\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01451601.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Southern Tokoeka \/ Stewart Island Brown Kiwi (Apteryx australis lawryi) female drinking from stream after feeding on sand hoppers in rotting kelp. Ocean Beach, Stewart Island, New Zealand. Endemic.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01451601.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01451601-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01451601-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01451601-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01451601-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01451601-600x401.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01451601-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01451601-320x214.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01451601-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01451601-900x601.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01451601-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Southern Tokoeka \/ Stewart Island Brown Kiwi (Apteryx australis lawryi) female drinking from stream after feeding on sand hoppers in rotting kelp. Ocean Beach, Stewart Island, New Zealand. Endemic.\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Southern Tokoeka \/ Stewart Island Brown Kiwi (Apteryx australis lawryi) female drinking from stream after feeding on sand hoppers in rotting kelp. Ocean Beach, Stewart Island, New Zealand. Endemic.<\/strong> by Mark Jones<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"681\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01401012.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"European Badger (Meles meles) on the North Downs above Folkestone, Kent, UK, June. Camera trap photo.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01401012.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01401012-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01401012-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01401012-768x511.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01401012-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01401012-600x399.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01401012-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01401012-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01401012-375x249.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01401012-900x599.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01401012-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"European Badger (Meles meles) on the North Downs above Folkestone, Kent, UK, June. Camera trap photo.\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>European Badger (Meles meles) on the North Downs above Folkestone, Kent, UK, June. Camera trap photo.<\/strong> by Terry Whittaker<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"672\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01679867.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Honey possum (Tarsipes rostratus), feeding on Yellow Lantern Banksia (Banksia lemanniana), at night, Mount Gibbs Nature Reserve, Western Australia.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01679867.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01679867-150x98.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01679867-300x197.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01679867-768x504.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01679867-320x210.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01679867-375x246.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01679867-600x394.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01679867-900x591.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01679867-162x106.jpg 162w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Honey possum (Tarsipes rostratus), feeding on Yellow Lantern Banksia (Banksia lemanniana), at night, Mount Gibbs Nature Reserve, Western Australia.\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Honey possum (Tarsipes rostratus), feeding on Yellow Lantern Banksia (Banksia lemanniana), at night, Mount Gibbs Nature Reserve, Western Australia.<\/strong> by Jiri Lochman<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon portrait'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"689\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01682101.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Portrait of a Bigfin reef squid (Sepioteuthis lessoniana) at night above a coral reef. Gam Island, Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia. Dampier Strait, Tropical West Pacific Ocean.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01682101.jpg 689w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01682101-101x150.jpg 101w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01682101-300x446.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01682101-320x476.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01682101-375x557.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01682101-600x892.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01682101-71x106.jpg 71w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Portrait of a Bigfin reef squid (Sepioteuthis lessoniana) at night above a coral reef. Gam Island, Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia. Dampier Strait, Tropical West Pacific Ocean.\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Portrait of a Bigfin reef squid (Sepioteuthis lessoniana) at night above a coral reef. Gam Island, Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia. Dampier Strait, Tropical West Pacific Ocean.<\/strong> by Alex Mustard<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"684\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01677559.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Red fox (Vulpes vulpes) female visiting garden on a rainy spring night, Hungary.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01677559.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01677559-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01677559-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01677559-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01677559-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01677559-600x401.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01677559-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01677559-320x214.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01677559-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01677559-900x601.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/naturepl_01677559-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Red fox (Vulpes vulpes) female visiting garden on a rainy spring night, Hungary.\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Red fox (Vulpes vulpes) female visiting garden on a rainy spring night, Hungary.<\/strong> by Milan Radisics<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .gallery -->\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The hours of darkness reveal a fascinating cast of characters in the natural world, as many animals are active primarily or exclusively at night.\u00a0Nocturnal photography presents particular challenges for the photographer, but also offers great rewards. Many creatures are captured by both still and video photography as they hunt, feed, drink, court and breed at&#8230;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/2021\/11\/24\/creatures-of-the-night\/\" rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"button\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[8,7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12244","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-video","category-natural-inspiration"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12244"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12244"}],"version-history":[{"count":50,"href":"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12244\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12336,"href":"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12244\/revisions\/12336"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12244"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12244"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12244"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}