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fly silently through the night air thanks to a specialized fringe of
feathers that muffles the sound of their wings. Small mammals
stand little chance against such well-adapted nocturnal predators,
except perhaps on moonlit nights.
Under a full moon, small rodents have a better chance of escap-
ing an owl's sharp talons. Moonlight helps prey species like mice,
rabbits, and voles detect predators more easily, particularly those
that rely more on vision than on hearing for sensing their environ-
ment. While the full moon may benefit small mammals, predators
like mountain lions, wolves, and bears tend to hunt less during a full
moon, perhaps because their prey is better able to see them coming.
is may explain why coyotes howl more on moonless nights.
Most people believe that coyotes howl at the moon, but this isn't
true. Coyotes may howl more on moonless nights in order to
defend
their territory
against intruders or
to gather their group for
cooperative hunting since
coyotes don't see as well on
darker nights.
While most of us wind down as the sun sets,
Montana's wild nightlife begin to emerge from their
roosts, burrows, and dens. Owls begin hooting, mice scurry
in the underbrush, and coyotes yip and howl. So before you
turn in for the night this summer, take a moment to listen to the
nightlife of Montana's wildlife unfold. And take a flashlight. You
never know which creature's eyes you'll find glowing back at you.
