![]() Opossums eat a wide variety of foods including insects, roaches, carrion, fruit and whatever else they can find. Virginia Opossum: North America's only marsupial, with 1 to 14 young being carried in the pouch for 2 months. ![]() Its name is a representation of its call. Generally found in the daytime, when it rests motionless on a tree branch in a shady area. It's call is a soft, breezy pzeent.Ĭhuck-Will's-Widow: Large (12"), russet brown nightjar. It has long, tapered wings marked with a white vertical stripe and is a little smaller than a mockingbird. Best time to see it in the evening as it chases insects. Unusually large mouth with whiskers on each side aid in the catching of insects.Ĭommon Nighthawk: A summer resident, it nests on the ground or on top of flat roofs. Readily accepts owl houses and has also been known to use brick archways over chimneys, and, of course, barn eaves. Call is Who cooks for you?īarn Owl: Large (16") with white heart-shaped face, white wings and breast, copper and gray back. Swamps are its most likely habitat in our area. Call is low hoo, hoo, hoo.īarred Owl: Large (21") with dark eyes, no "ear" tufts. Prey includes animals as large as rabbits, snakes and skunks. ![]() Great Horned Owl: Large (23") with "ear" tufts, bright yellow eyes. Call is long, descending quavering whinny. Best seen in the early evening or pre-dawn hours. Mainly eats insects, but also likes to hunt for small fish and frogs. Relatively tame and curious, it has been known to follow evening strollers out of curiosity. Very small (8" - 9"), it can be either red or gray in color. Screech Owl: The most common owl in Houston. Large eyes allow for excellent night vision. Rest during the day in trees to emerge at night. Snakes: See our resource page on Snakes of Houston. The tail eventually grows back, although it will not be as long. The tail breaks off easily and even continues to wriggle for a short while. Tail is marked by alternating light and dark stripes. Mediterranean Gecko: 4" - 5", stout lizard with pale tan translucent body and darker spots. Call sounds like the soft bleating of a sheep. Very shy and seldom seen. Prefers shady areas with abundant moisture. Narrow-mouthed Toad: Small toad (less than 2") with an egg-shaped body ending in a small head. Flattened appearance with dark body and lighter blotches. Toadsĭistinguished from frogs by rough warty skin. Not a good choice for small ponds, it is fond of eating other frogs and small birds. Call is the loud unmistakable roar of a bull horn. Often heard in the daytime.īullfrog: Largest U.S. Call resembles the plucking of a banjo string. Call is a soft chuckle.īronze Frog: Warm bronze in color, stocky frog. Leopard Frog: Slender light-brown frog with dark brown blotches. Unlike most frogs its skin appears rough and warty. Call resembles that of a cricket.īlanchard's Cricket Frog: Soft, grayish brown with darker blotches. Rio Grande Chirping Frog: Tiny frog with translucent dark or light brown skin. In mid-summer often heard in the daytime after rain showers. Call is more rasping and a bit softer than the green treefrog. Squirrel Treefrog: Variably yellow to green. Green Treefrog: Usually bright green with horizontal white stripe on side of body. Usually found clinging to vegetation, but cricket frogs have adapted to living on the ground. If you dare, go out some evening armed with a flashlight to find some of our night prowlers!Īll adult frogs and toads are carnivorous, eating a wide variety of foods but primarily insects. Various snakes often change their hunting times based on temperature. Still other animals are not primarily nocturnal, but during the hot summer months hunt at night to avoid the heat.Skunks and armadillos exhibit this type of behavior. Others are not nocturnal by nature, but have learned to be active at night in order to avoid contact with humans. ![]()
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