There is a reason why critters come out at night

The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, like any place in Tucson, is a tough slog midday this time of year.

That's why the museum opens an hour earlier at 7:30 a.m. in the summer months, and why it opens at half price for evening events every Saturday in summer.

The list of upcoming Summer Saturday Evening events is here.

Upcoming themes cover bats, bugs, night photography, astronomy and music.

My favorite combination is August 25: International Year of the Bat & Teacher Appreciation Night.

There is something special about the linking of those two much-maligned, under-appreciated but crucial mammal species.