Some animals that are active at night include snakes, bighorn sheep, kangaroo rats, coyotes, and black-tailed jackrabbits. Dawn and dusk are good times for viewing many kinds of animals, because you can see both those just going to bed and those just getting up. Being active at night is a great way to beat the heat. So is seeking shelter. You won't have to walk far in the desert before you notice many holes in the ground. These underground burrows are places where reptiles and small mammals take refuge from the blazing summer sun or huddle for warmth in the winter.