COLONIAL BATS:

Little brown bat- ( Myotis lucifugus)

The Little brown bat is one of the most common bats that we find in and near buildings.  These bats are often found near bodies of water where they forage on insects.  They can often be seen around swimming pools eating insects and flying low to get water.  Summer colonies can be gregarious commonly taking up residence in hot attics and roof areas.  A maternal bat colony can range in size from a few hundred to few thousand bats. The lifespan of the Little brown bat has been shown to be as long as 31 years.  The average lifespan though is probably only a few years.  The Little brown bat has a wingspan of 9.02-10 inches and is dark brown in the eastern United States. Litter size is 1.

Big brown bat- ( Eptesicus fuscus)

The Big brown bat is a sedentary bat that seems to favor buildings as roosting sights. Maternal colonies can range in size from a dozen up to a hundred individual bats. They roost behind chimneys, in attics, barns, behind shutters and in enclosed eaves.  The Big brown bat is known to overwinter in buildings. Big brown bats can live up to 18 years. The Big brown bat has a wingspan of 12.8-13.78 inches. The Big brown van range in color from reddish brown, copperish , to dark brown depending on geographic location.

Mexican free tailed bat ( Tadarida brasiliensis)

The Mexican free tailed bat forms the largest colonies of any warm blooded animal, especially in the western United States.  The Mexican free tailed bat has a wingspan of 11.4-12.8 inches and is dark brown to dark gray.

BAT BIOLOGY AND REPRODUCTION:

Bats emit high frequency sounds to locate insects, avoid objects and to communicate with one another.  Bats usually mate in the fall and winter.  The female bat will normally store the sperm in her uterus until spring when ovulation occurs. Bats are usually born from May to July and the young are flightless.  It is for this reason that no bat exclusions should be attempted until the first week of August.  Bats usually give birth to one young one and any disturbance of the roost may cause the mother bats to drop the flightless young, thus killing them.  This not only harms the bat population but creates a odor and insect problem for the home owner.

(UNDER CONSTRUCTION)