Lucy, June, Jack, and Sam lay on a picnic blanket, gazing up at the twinkling stars. Their heads were full of questions about where animals go when the sun sets. "I wonder where squirrels sleep at night," pondered Lucy. "And what about birds? Do they all sleep in their nests?" added Jack.
June pointed towards the sprawling oak tree. "Squirrels make their nests in trees, right?" she asked eagerly. Sam, the group's animal fact enthusiast, nodded. "Yes, they build nests called dreys out of twigs and leaves. They curl up inside to stay warm and safe," he explained. "How do they know when it's bedtime?" wondered June. "Squirrels are diurnal, so they sleep at night when it's dark," Sam replied.
Jack watched as a bird fluttered into a tree. "Do birds sleep in their nests?" he asked. Lucy chimed in, "Some do, but many just perch on branches. They lock their feet around the branch so they don't fall," she explained. "Do they sleep all night?" June asked. "Most birds doze lightly and are ready to fly if there's danger," Lucy said.
Sam glanced at the old garden shed. "Raccoons find cozy spots like logs or attics to sleep," he stated. "How do they stay safe?" Jack asked. "Raccoons are nocturnal, so they sleep during the day and come out at night," Sam replied. "They must have good hiding spots," Lucy mused.
June wondered aloud, "Where do opossums sleep?" Sam responded, "They like to sleep in burrows or hollow logs. They're also nocturnal and are very good at playing dead to avoid predators!" "That's clever," June said with admiration.
Lucy pointed to the treetops, "What about owls? Where do they sleep?" Jack answered, "Owls are nocturnal too. They sleep during the day and hunt at night, usually sleeping in tree hollows or dense evergreens," he said. "I guess they don't need much sleep since they're up all night," Lucy laughed.
Sam packed up the blanket as Lucy yawned. "We learned so much tonight," she said, rubbing her eyes. "Yeah, and there are still so many animals to discover," Jack added. June smiled sleepily, "I can't wait for our next adventure," she murmured. With hearts full of wonder, the curious cousins headed inside, already dreaming of the secrets the night would hold tomorrow.
