Go on an owl prowl: Nature centers take visitors in search of creatures of the night

Owls, opossums and raccoons, oh my! These creatures of the night are the stars of their own shows, of sorts, at nature centers around Long Island.

"It's amazing, a lot of people don't know what exists in their own backyard," says Isabel Fernandez, animal care and wildlife coordinator for Sweetbriar Nature Center in Smithtown. "There is a whole world that comes out when people are sleeping."

Several sanctuaries and preserves offer programs focused on nocturnal animals. Most are family-friendly affairs -- offered only once or twice a year -- that involve a walk on the property at night in hopes of having an up-close encounter.

1 Creatures of the Night

WHEN | WHERE 7 p.m. May 16, Sweetbriar Nature Center,

62 Eckerncamp Dr., Smithtown.

Advance registration recommended. Geared to ages 7 and older.

INFO 631-979-6344, sweetbriarnc.org

ADMISSION $6

Meet two of Sweetbriar's resident owls and other animals at this twice-a-year event, which staff members say attracts a big turnout.

Two naturalists will lead an indoor program that covers what makes owls and other nocturnal wanderers, such as opossums and chinchillas, tick.

After the presentation, the group will move outside for a night hike. Staffers bring audio recordings of great-horned and screech owls (it's their nesting season) to increase the chances of an owl in the wild responding to the calls.

2 Nature After Dark

WHEN | WHERE 7:30-9 p.m. June 13, Theodore Roosevelt Sanctuary & Audubon Center,

134 Cove Rd., Oyster Bay. Advance registration required.

INFO 516-922-3200, ny.audubon.org

ADMISSION $10

Are you brave enough to venture into the woods under a full moon? The center invites visitors ages 7 and older to spend an evening under the stars among the raccoons, opossums -- and snakes. Hopefully.

"The unique thing about this event is that the kids are able to walk outside and be in the woods, and most kids don't get a chance to do that," says Maria Baglieri, one of the center's naturalists.

After a presentation that covers owls and other after-dark creatures, the group heads out to the sanctuary trails with flashlights. Staff members lead kids in a variety of activities designed to challenge their senses in the dark. And there's always a chance of seeing an animal or two along the journey.

3 Nocturnal Insects

WHEN | WHERE 8-9 p.m.

May 31 and 8:30-9:15 p.m. July 26, South Fork Natural History Museum, 377 Bridgehampton/

Sag Harbor Tpke., Bridgehampton. Reservations suggested.

INFO 631-537-9735, sofo.org

ADMISSION $7 ($5 ages 3-12)

Different breeds of bugs come out at night. One of the most prominent nocturnal insects is the moth. Beetles, too, tend to show themselves after dark. Museum staffer Crystal Possehl leads a one-hour program May 31 covering the varieties of moths and beetles you might find locally -- and strategies for attracting them.

Also, the date: July 26 is "Moth Night," when moth expert and entomologist Hugh McGinness leads an educational program that will have participants identifying and documenting several different species of moths as they come out at night. The group will use tactics ranging from white sheets (moths and other insects are drawn to amplified light) to putting out a sugary concoction in hopes of attracting bugs for observation.

"Seeing nocturnal insects can give people a chance to see bugs . . . they never knew existed," says Molly Adams, South Fork's nature educator. "People say they are 'just moths,' but there are so many different species."