Why do we need the night?

Why do foxes need darkness? Foxes are crepuscular and nocturnal animals. This means they are primarily active in the early morning hours, at dusk, and during the night. They feel safe in the dark and can hunt undisturbed. Their sharp senses, excellent hearing, and keen sense of smell are perfectly adapted to nighttime conditions.

Hedgehog are nocturnal animals. They roam their territories after dark in search of food or shelter. They often travel several kilometers in one night. Artificially lit gardens and parks disturb hedgehogs while they search for food. In addition, day- and night-active robotic lawnmowers can cause serious injuries.
The hedgehog…

We need light to live. But we find ourselves in a state of constant light that seems to be shifted: During the day, we stay indoors and expose ourselves to too little daylight, which is necessary, among other things, for the production of vitamin D, which is so important for us. At night, we expose ourselves to too much artificial light. A clear rhythm between light and dark, which is urgently needed, is no longer recognizable...

Heat-loving flying acrobat. Huge, almost body-length ears, which are connected to a fold of skin over the forehead, and large, lively eyes characterize the face of the Brown Long-eared Bat (Plecotus sylvatica).
However, with their large ears and short, broad wings, which ensure flight stability, they are true flying artists: their hovering flight allows them to fly on a…

Der Froschkönig (Hyla arborea)  Most people are familiar with the tree frog from fairy tales or as a weatherman. However, very few have seen it in the wild. Why is that? It's because of its lifestyle. It's a good climber and likes to stay in bushes or trees, perfectly camouflaged by its green color.

Anyone who wants to experience the concert of tree frogs…

A true master of camouflage, this is the nocturnal nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus), which is also called the nightjar. It is so well camouflaged that it is difficult to spot even during the day.

The nightjar prefers heathland and open forests. As a ground-nesting bird, it needs open areas of ground. Its plumage, which is reminiscent of leaves and tree bark, helps to dig the nest…

Passionate glow. Actually, fireflies are not worms at all, but beetles. The different species form their own family within the order of beetles, the fireflies.
We call them glowworms or glowworms because the female resembles a worm and because of their special “light cells” on the belly of the…

Dazzlingly elegant. The Small Peacock Butterfly (Saturnia pavonia) can be considered a typical species of Calluna-Heiden although it can also be found in other habitat types. The short-lived butterflies, they only live for a few days, are mainly active during the day and the males can be seen flying from the beginning of April. The lazy-flying females remain in the air after the …

Silent hunter. The calls of the tawny owl (Strix aluco) sound dark and eerie and are used as an interlude in night scenes in many crime novels. Tawny owls mark their territory with these sounds, which can be heard especially in autumn and late winter. The silent hunters are well camouflaged and have a grey-brown or reddish-brown basic colour to their plumage. The large...