How to Identify Animal Eyes At Night By Flashlight?

Last Updated on September, 2024

In the wild, safety is important (especially at night). Predators are out for hunting, and many other animals are roaming around too. 

In the dark, it’s very tough to determine what is there. Interestingly, you can determine what animal is there by their eyeshine and take the necessary steps. 

In this article, I will share an in-depth guide on identifying animal eyes at night by flashlight and ensuring your safety. 

So, let’s get into it! 

Shall we? 

Quick Summary

The five key factors to follow when identifying an animal based on eyeshine are:

1. The color of the eye
2. The shape of the eye
3. The shape of the eyelid
4. Orientation of slit pupil (eye movement)
5. Vision and angle

There are five primary colors of eyeshine that animal eyes can emit: white, blue, yellow, red, and green.

It is possible to identify an animal by its eyeshine using a flashlight, but it is important to also consider other factors such as size, shape, and movement.

Can You Identify Animal Eyes at Night Using a Flashlight?

Yes, you can! 

Identifying an animal through eyeshine is a cool skill to have. 

And, it’s more important for your safety. So, in order to identify an animal through the eyeshine, here are five key factors you should follow: 

• The color of the eye 
• The shape of the eye 
• The shape of the eyelid 
• Orientation of slit pupil (eye movement) 
• Vision and angle 

In the rest of the article you’ll learn more about it.

So, keep reading! 

Why Do Animals’ Eyes Shine at Night? 

When we see something, all the information comes to us through light. 

Then it gets into the retina, where the photoreceptor absorbs and immediately transfers it to the brain.

On the other hand, some animals have a layer of reflective membrane just behind the retina, tapetum lucidum. 

The tapetum lucidum reflects towards the light source, increasing light on the photoreceptor and assuring better night vision. 

This way, some animals can see better in the dark than others. 

So, because of the reflective layer, aka tapetum lucidum, animal’s eyes shine.

Why People’s Eyes Don’t Shine at Night? 

I think you’ve already guessed it! 

The human eye doesn’t have the reflective layer called tapetum lucidum. That’s why it doesn’t shine at night. 

The eyeshine only occurs because the reflective layer throws the light back to the light source. 

As there is no reflective layer in human eyes, it doesn’t reflect towards the light source, and that’s why the human eye doesn’t shine. 

Why Does Confusion Occur While Identifying Animal Eyes? 

The tapetum lucidum isn’t only a portion of the eye; instead, it’s a lot more than that. 

The tapetum lucidum works more like a defensive mechanism that animals like cattle and deer use to detect predators and save themselves. 

The beauty of nature is that the tapetum lucidum in predators (like cats and dogs) gives better visibility at night to hunt. 

When you are trying to identify animal eyes, there are a few confusions that can lead to misidentification. 

And, the misidentification happens because of a few confusions. These are- 

• The color of the light source (like moonlight or flashlight)
• The size of the animal retina 
• The position
• Angle of the light source 
• The distance between the animal and you

In my opinion, looking for only eyeshine can be confusing sometimes. We should also look at the movement, behavior, and habitat.

Eyeshine Chart 

When you try to identify animal eyes at night, there are five eyeshine colors you’ll mostly notice. Which are: 

• White 
• Blue
• Yellow
• Red 
• Green

Now here is a chart of eye shine charts of 31+ animals. Give it a look! 

Animals With White Eyeshine

Several animals have white eyes (like tigers, deer, etc.) The shine varies like the deer have bright white eye shine, whereas a tiger’s eye isn’t that glossy. 

That’s why spotting a tiger at night is quite difficult. 

Animals With Blue Eyeshine

Animals with blue eyeshines are mostly cats, dogs, and horses. 

We mostly see blue eyeshines in the dark in cats’ and dogs’ eyes (as they’re the most closest animals to humans). 

However, animals with blue eyeshines aren’t that dangerous to humans.

Animals With Yellow Eyeshine 

Animals With Red Eyeshine

Related article: Will a Flashlight Scare an Owl?

Animals With Green Eyeshine

Foxes, sheep, dogs, and cats mostly have green eyeshines. These animals are mostly not harmful to humans. 

I guess one thing you have already noticed is that cats and dogs have different and multiple eyeshines. 

How to Identify Animal Eyes at Night by Flashlight? Step-By-Step Guideline 

Though in the woods, identifying animal through their eyes are adventurous, but it’s highly dangerous too. 

And, if you are not an expert, avoid going into the wood at night alone. 

So, here are a few steps you should follow while identifying animal eyes. 

• Use a high-quality flashlight and get a lens cap for the flashlight. I mostly prefer and recommend using a headlamp as it provides better visibility and zero hassle. 
• When you hear any sound or movement, try to figure out the animal’s eyeshine and then check its eye, body shape, and other factors I’ve mentioned above properly. 
• Focus on the size of the eye, eye shape and size, eyelid shape and size, and slit pupil concentration properly. 
• Try to get a visual of the pupil in a parallel pattern. 
• Look into trees to find owls and other nightbirds. 

If you’re a hunter, check out the best blood-tracking flashlights and best-hunting flashlights on the market. (MUST HAVE!)

Conclusion 

Identifying animal eyes at night in the wild is a lifesaving skill. It’ll help you to stay alert, and if there’s any serious predator that harms humans, you can take the necessary steps. 

However, don’t rely on the eye color only; look for other aspects too. It is because eye color isn’t constant; you will always find varieties.

So, stay safe and cautious when you are in the wood. 

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