Nature’s Nightlife

by | Beyond the Barways |


The temperatures may be cooling down, but in Westport, the nocturnal nightlife is heating up as we follow the path into October. This is a wonderful time of year to see, hear and observe the activity of critters in our backyards, forests and fields.

Whooo you might hear (or see)

Owls! The South Coast is home to a variety of owls that remain active year-round. The two most prevalent species you will see (or, more likely, hear) are the Barred Owl (calling “Who cooks for you, who cooks for you all” and the Great Horned Owl (with its deep, often duetting “hoo-h’HOO-hoo-hoo”). Although they can be more vocal in the winter, we hear these throughout the autumn and often even during the daytime.


Big Brown Bats! Their name is an apt description of the animal, Eptesicus
fuscus is particularly active in October. Their mating season takes place in the fall, so this is the time of year you will see them emerging in large flocks during the evening twilight. In early spring, the females will separate to for colonies and communally raise their young – but fall is a busy season for this creature of the night.


Sphinx moths! These beautiful night pollinators can be seen flying from flower to flower well into the fall. Members of the Sphingidae family, also called hawkmoths, these insects make use of the cooler nights and stay active nectaring even as the more famous Monarch butterfly departs for its migratory cycle. The butterflies can have the spotlight – Sphinx moths will take the moonlight!


Opossums! The only species of opossum in North America is Didelphis virginiana, so you can call our “our possum,” simply opossum. These mammals are often mistakenly lumped in with rodents, but as North America’s only marsupial, they are completely distinct from that group. Possums are distinctly adaptable, equally at home in the woodland of Westport and in urban centers scavenging for manmade leftovers.


Coyotes! Technically, coyotes are a diurnal creature – meaning that they active during the daytime and would prefer to sleep at night. However, as their habitats are encroached on by human development, their activity has been found to be increasingly nocturnal to avoid human interactions. As Bram Stoker wrote, “Listen to them, the children of the night. What music they make!”

Get into the spirit of the nightlife with these family-friendly programs at Westport Woods throughout the month of October:

You can find these programs and more on our WLCT Events Page.