In Arizona’s hot and arid climate, when the sun goes down and the moon comes up, nocturnal animals come out to party! While you rest comfortably in your tent, camper, or campground cabin, an entire cast of nocturnal creatures begins their nightly routine: hunting, foraging, and navigating the cooler landscape under starlight.

Discover why some wildlife choose the night shift, meet Arizona's 10 common nocturnal animals, and check out upcoming park events that can help you get better acquainted with Arizona’s wildlife at night!

Why are some animals Nocturnal?

You may wonder what would make an animal embrace life in the dark. It’s not so much sensitivity to light or complete avoidance of daytime activity. For many species, hunting and mating conditions are optimal at night. Some animals are specially adapted to have good vision in the dark and other heightened senses like keen hearing and smell. In Arizona's extreme summer heat, nocturnal activity is a survival strategy for many animals. 

Other wildlife are most active during dawn and dusk, and these are called crepuscular animals (think deer, rabbits, and javelina). The daytime dwellers? Those are called diurnal animals and include lizards, raptors, coatimundi, squirrels, and more.

Fun fact: many of Arizona’s animals use a thermoregulation strategy called “splooting” to stay cool. They stretch out and lay flat, almost appearing to melt into the ground, to release body heat.

10 nocturnal animals common in Arizona

1. Owls: There are more than a dozen owl species in Arizona but the most common you may see is the Great Horned owl. It resides across our state’s deserts, forests, and even urban areas. You’ll have to be observant, though. Owls are famous for their ability to fly silently. It’s part of what makes them expert hunters!
2. Scorpions: Some may say you’re a true Arizonan once you take part in this favorite nighttime activity: grab a black light and search the ground for scorpions. Their exoskeleton fluoresces under UV light! You’ll want to keep a distance and never handle a scorpion, though. They may sting if provoked, which can be painful and in some cases, like with the venom of the small bark scorpion, harmful or even life-threatening.
3. Raccoons and ringtail: Many are acquainted with the black-masked bandit of trash cans and campgrounds at night: the raccoon. Their relative, Arizona’s state mammal, is the ringtail. Both can be found across Arizona and are resourceful in seeking out things to eat. It’s important to keep food and trash secured in campgrounds to keep wildlife safe and dependent on their natural diet.
4. Bats: Bats are found across the world, but Arizona has a special connection with these nocturnal mammals. Bats are VIPs: Very Important Pollinators, and the iconic saguaro cactus, which is only found in the Sonoran Desert, is reliant on their pollination. On top of that, bats are insect eaters (great for mosquito control) and famously navigate dark hunting conditions using echolocation.
5. Snakes: Snakes are cold-blooded reptiles and for much of the year are diurnal or crepuscular. But during Arizona’s hot summer months, they become active at night. For them, it’s all about temperature. Snakes prefer to be most active when temperatures are in the 70s and 80s.
   A note on venomous snakes: While Arizona has 13 species of rattlesnakes, there are also non-venomous snakes. Each species plays an important role in keeping the desert ecosystem healthy and needs to be respected from a safe distance.
6. Coyotes: When the sun hangs low in the desert sky and the mountains are tinged orange in the day’s last light, an iconic desert sound rings out: the coyote’s howl. Coyotes howl for a number of reasons, which are mainly social, like locating members of their pack.
7. Elk: In the middle of the night in Arizona’s high country, you may hear an eerie call resonate through the pine trees. An elk’s bugle starts low and transitions to what we can only describe as a sort of high-pitched "scream." This sound is usually made to announce its presence to other males. Elk are primarily crepuscular, but the weather and moon phases can affect their activity level at night.
8. Bears: The black bear is the only bear species found in Arizona. Bears are mainly nocturnal in Arizona’s summer to avoid the heat. Their diet primarily consists of acorns, berries, insects, and cactus fruits, but they have an incredible sense of smell. Protect wildlife and yourself by securely storing food, trash, and scented products.
9. Skunk: Arizona has four species of skunks: striped, hooded, hog-nosed and spotted. They are mild-tempered and avoid confrontations unless provoked. When threatened, they usually turn to face the assailant, arch their backs, raise their tails, hiss and stamp their feet. If the warning is ignored, they turn their back to the intruder and discharge their musk. They can accurately hit a moving target at 15 feet, but the smell can carry for up to 20 miles! 
10. Mountain Lion: Nighttime is the best time for hunting food when it comes to these solitary predators. Their diet consists of other mammals, from deer to rabbits and everything in between. Mountain lions are elusive and not commonly seen by people, but information on staying safe around these majestic creatures is available in our Mountain Lion guide.

Experience Arizona's Nocturnal Wildlife This Summer

Ready to follow Mother Nature’s lead and explore Arizona’s wildlife habitat under the stars? Let us be your guide with these fun summer night programs at the state parks! From scorpion seek-and-find to bat walks and more, we’ll help you be safe and feel comfortable adventuring in the moonlight while giving tips for your best chance to see nocturnal animals in Arizona.

• Catalina Nights at Catalina State Park on July 18, August 1 and 15, and September 5 and 19 (Tucson)
• Scorpion Hike at Oracle State Park on July 19 (Oracle)
• Bat Walk at Kartchner Caverns State Park on July 19, August 16, and September 6 (Benson) - registration required
• Night Life Hike at Red Rock State Park on July 25 (Sedona) - registration required
• Moonlight Hike at Red Rock State Park on August 8 and September 7 (Sedona) - registration required