Well, it all comes down to lions.
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Kitty!
A bunch of scientists studying lion attacks in Africa discovered a weird correlation: In the days immediately following a full moon, attacks on humans spiked. They discovered that the most dangerous time for people to be out is "the active hours after sunset, particularly the day after the full moon."
Why? Because a full moon means more light, and more light means the lions' prey can see them coming and more easily avoid an attack. So the lions get really friggin' hungry when the moon is full. But after that, the moon starts to rise later, meaning more darkness in the early evening -- which is right about the time people are most likely to be cruising around, their supple butt cheeks quivering in the darkness like a pair of steaks all marinated up for a tasty lion barbecue.
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"No, no, girl, I'm telling you. You have to chase for a bit before you kill them. The adrenaline makes the meat so tender."