Motion activated lights are a fantastic way to see nocturnal creatures on the prowl.

Last night, for instance, the lights triggered. My wife looked out to see a skunk on our patio, casually partaking of some delicious French bread (when we have fresh bread I often toss the leftovers out back. Between the birds and the nighttime creatures it's gone by morning, and it's infrequent enough to be unanticipated and non-habit forming for the neighbourhood friends).

Sensing an opportunity to educate our awake-far-too-late Sr. Toddler daughter a bit, I brought her over to look out at the skunk. She burst out crying.

"My toys are outside! Bring my toys in! My toys!" (there was a little plastic bicycle, and a couple of toy gardening implements outside)

After finally getting her to settle down a bit, I got her to tell me what was upsetting her.

"The skunk is going to poop on my toys!"