Bat Facts 

Bats are Unique
 

Although some mammals can glide, bats are the only mammals that can truly fly. Scientists have classified bats into a unique group or order called “Chiroptera”, which means “hand wing.” Bats literally fly with their hands! Their wings are much like our hands, but with longer fingers and a thin, but tough, membrane (skin) between the fingers. Worldwide, there are over 1,000 species of bats. From fossil records we have learned that bats existed over 65 million years ago. Today, they inhabit all areas of the globe except Antarctica and the extreme desert regions, but most bat species live in the tropics.
 
Bats eat a variety of things, including insects, fruit, nectar, fish and small vertebrates, but only three species feed on blood. Bats also come in many different colors, shapes, and sizes. The largest bat in the world is the Malayan flying fox, a fruit-eater. It can weigh over 2 ½ pounds and have a wingspan of over 6 feet! The smallest bat is the Bumblebee bat of Thailand, an insect-eater, which weighs less than a penny and has a wingspan of only 5 inches. Bats are not blind, but in addition to sight, many species have highly developed ultrasonic bio-sonar capabilities, referred to as “echolocation,” which they use to navigate and catch insects in total darkness. 

Bats are Beneficial 

Seventy percent of the world’s bats eat insects. One bat can devour up to 3,000 insects in a single night! Most insectivorous bats eat their body weight in insects each night. It has been estimated that the 22 million Mexican free-tailed bats roosting in Bracken Cave, Texas during the summer eat 250 tons of insects each night, a large portion of which are agricultural pests. It is little wonder that bats are considered the most important natural controller of night-flying insects.
In the tropics, fruit and nectar feeding bats play a vital role in the survival and re-growth of the rainforests. Fruit bats spread seeds as they fly and digest their food. Nectar feeding bats pollinate many valuable plants. Banana, avocado, date, fig, mango and balsa wood are a few of the trees that depend upon bats. Agaves, saguaro, and organ pipe cactus depend on bats for pollination. Even the huge baobab tree in Africa, commonly called the “Tree of Life”, relies on bats for its survival. 

Bats are Misunderstood 

There are many myths and misconceptions regarding bats. Bats are not blind. They have the same five senses we do, smelling, hearing, tasting, seeing and feeling. Some bats, however, have highly developed sonar capabilities, called “echolocation.” Bats do not attack people, and they won’t get tangled in your hair. Bats are actually quite timid and basically ignore humans. Bats are not flying rodents. They are in their own scientific order called Chiroptera. There are no Vampire bats in the United States. They are only found in southern Mexico, Central and South America. Vampire bats do not suck blood; they lap it up from a small scrape they make with their very sharp incisor teeth. The most common misconception that people have is that all bats are rabid. This is not true. Studies have shown that less than one percent of bats contract rabies and when they do, they usually die within three or four days. Although they do not become aggressive, they can end up on the ground or someplace they do not belong and if handled they may bite in self-defense and transmit the disease. So never handle a wild bat with your bare hands and make sure your pet’s vaccinations are current. Go to our Contact Us and then click on the Center for Disease Control (CDC) logo for more information about bats and rabies on their website 

Never handle or play with any wild animals, including bats. They are wild and meant to be left alone. 

Bats are Threatened 

Bats are disappearing at alarming rates. Disturbance or destruction of roost sites due to development and vandalism is the greatest threat to the world’s bats. Most bats living in Florida prefer to roost in mature or dead trees or in caves. However, many bats are squeezed out of urban areas due to loss of habitat or take up residence in buildings and become the targets for abuse. Public education and preservation of roost sites are the keys to maintaining Florida’s native bat populations. Related information can be found on the following page: Conservation. 

Bats Need Help 

You can help bats by learning more about them and sharing bat information with others. Fear and misunderstanding are one of the worst enemies of bats. This is why education is the main emphasis of the Florida Bat Center. Bat houses are also a perfect way to get involved in conservation. A bat house in your backyard will provide bats with a much needed, safe place to live. They will also do you the return favor of eating insects around the area. You can also help by supporting conservation groups that protect wildlife habitats and preserve natural lands. If you would like to help the Florida Bat Center in its mission to preserve Florida’s native bat populations, click here for ways to help. 

 

Florida’s Bats 

Florida is home to thirteen (13) species of bats that are either year-round or seasonal residents. All thirteen species are insectivorous. Some form colonies and some roost alone. There are also seven species of bats that have, on occasion, been found in Florida, but they do not normally live here. These are referred to as accidental species. Three are from more northern climates and also eat insects. Four are from more tropical regions and feed on nectar, pollen and fruit. The latter have only been found in south Florida and the Florida Keys. Click on the links below to learn more about these bats. 

Big brown bat 

Common name:  Big brown bat Scientific name:  Eptesicus fuscus Family: Vespertilionidae

Photo by Jerry L. Gingerich, D.V.M.

Description:  The fur is long, silky and varies in color from Chocolate-brown to reddish- or golden-brown.  The ears and wing membranes are dark brown to nearly black.  The big brown bat is similar in appearance to the evening bat but is larger in size.
Wingspan:         13-14 inches
Body Length:     2.1-3.2 inches
Weight:               0.4-0.8 ounces
Florida Roosting Preferences: Colonial. Dead tree cavities provide the normal roosting habitat for this bat, but one colony was found roosting in the base of a royal palm leaf stem in south Florida.  They also move into buildings, bridges and bat houses.
Food Preferences: Insectivorous.  They feed on beetles, planthoppers, true bugs, flies, mosquitoes, flying termites, flying ants, and a number of other insects.
Reproduction:  Females usually give birth to two pups in May or June.
Florida Status: Uncommon in north and central Florida.  Rare in south Florida.
Florida Range: Found throughout the state except for the Florida Keys. 

 

Tricolored bat (Eastern pipistrelle) 

Common name:  Tricolored bat Previously known as the eastern pipistrelle Scientific name:  Perimyotis subflavus Previously classified as Pipistrellus subflavus Family: Vespertilionidae

Photo by Jerry L. Gingerich, D.V.M.

Description: The tricolored bat is Florida’s smallest bat species.  Its fur varies in color from silvery gray to grayish yellow to light brown.  The pinkish color of the skin on its forearms contrasts sharply with the dark, nearly black, color of the wing membranes.  The ears are relatively long. 
Wingspan:         8-10 inches
Body Length:     1.4-2.0 inches
Weight:               0.2-0.3 ounces
Florida Roosting Preferences: Colonial/Solitary.  Usually roosts singly or in small groups.  Roost habitat includes caves, tree foliage, tree cavities, rock crevices, Spanish moss, and occasionally buildings. 
Food Preferences: Insectivorous.  Feeds on small moths, flies, mosquitoes, leafhoppers, flying ants, and small beetles.
Reproduction:  Females usually give birth to two pups during May or June.
Florida Status: Uncommon.
Florida Range: Although not considered abundant, they are found throughout Florida, except for the Florida Keys. 

Evening bat 

Common name: Evening bat Scientific name: Nycticeius humeralis Family: Vespertilionidae

Photo by Jerry L. Gingerich, D.V.M.

Description: The fur of the evening bat is usually dark brown but may also have a bronze reddish tint.  It has short dark ears, and the muzzle is broad, unfurred, and nearly black. This species closely resembles the big brown bat but is smaller in size.
Wingspan:         10-11 inches
Body Length:     1.9-2.6 inches
Weight:               0.2-0.4 ounces
Florida Roosting Preferences: Colonial.  Colony sizes range from just a few to around seventy or so bats.  They roost behind loose bark and the crevices and cavities of dead trees.  On a few occasions they have been found in Spanish moss.  They also roost in buildings, bridges, the brackets on utility poles, and bat houses.
Food Preferences: Insectivorous.  They feed on beetles, planthoppers, true bugs, flies, mosquitoes, moths, flying termites, flying ants and other insects.
Reproduction:  Females usually give birth to two pups in late April or May.
Florida status: Common.
Florida range: Evening bats are common throughout Florida, except for the Florida Keys.
 

Gray myotis 

Common name:  Gray myotis Scientific name:  Myotis grisescens Family: Vespertilionidae

Description: The fur of the gray myotis is uniformly gray in color.  The individual hairs do not vary in color from the base to the tip as with other myotis species.
Wingspan:         11-13 inches
Body Length:     1.6-2.2 inches
Weight:               0.3-0.4 ounces
Florida Roosting Preferences: Colonial.  The gray myotis is a cave dwelling species and hibernates in caves during the winter months.
Food Preferences: Insectivorous.  Feeds on moths, beetles, flies, mosquitoes, midges, and other insects.
Reproduction: Females give birth to a single pup in late May or early June.
Florida status: Rare.  Classified as Endangered by both the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Florida Range: North Florida is the southern extent of the gray bat range.  There are only a few caves in the panhandle of Florida that serve as roost sites for this endangered bat. 

Northern yellow bat 

Common name:  Northern yellow bat Scientific name: Lasiurus intermedius Family: Vespertilionidae

Photo by Jerry L. Gingerich, D.V.M.

Description: The northern yellow bat is one of Florida’s larger bat species.  Its long, thick fur varies in color from yellowish- to grayish brown.  This enables it to be well camouflaged in its preferred roost habitat of dead palm fronds.
Wingspan:         14-16 inches
Body Length:     2.8-2.8 inches
Weight:               0.5-1.1 ounces
Florida Roosting Preferences: Solitary. Roosts primarily in the dead palm fronds of sabal palms, but occasionally roosts in Spanish moss. The practice of trimming dead palm fronds in urban areas destroys habitat for this species.
Food preferences: Insectivorous. Feeds on beetles, flies, damselflies, leafhoppers, flying ants, and other insects. Often seen foraging around streetlights.
Reproduction:  Females give birth to one to four pups in late May through June.
Florida status: Common.
Florida range: Found throughout the state, except for the Florida Keys. 

Seminole bat 

Common name:  Seminole bat Scientific name:  Lasiurus seminolus Family: Vespertilionidae

Photo by Jerry L. Gingerich, D.V.M.

Description: The fur of the Seminole bat is a rich mahogany color.  On some individuals, the tips of the fur are white, giving them a slightly frosted appearance. A patch of white fur is often found on the shoulders and wrists.  Seminole bats are closely related to eastern red bats and are very similar in appearance.
Wingspan:         11-13 inches
Body Length:     1.8-2.7 inches
Weight:               0.3-0.5 ounces
Florida Roosting Preferences: Solitary.  Commonly roosts in pine trees and Spanish moss. 
Food Preferences: Insectivorous.  Feeds on moths, beetles, true bugs, flies, and other insects.  Can be seen foraging insects around streetlights.
Reproduction:  Females usually give birth to three or four pups but may give birth to one or two.  The young are normally born in mid-May through mid-June.
Florida status: Common.
Florida range: Found throughout the state, except for the Florida Keys. 

Velvety free-tailed bat 

Common name:  Velvety free-tailed bat                                  Pallas’ mastiff bat Scientific name:  Molossus molossus Family: Molossidae

Photo by Jerry L. Gingerich, D.V.M.

Description: The short velvety fur varies in color from dark brown to dark gray.  Like other bats in the family Molossidae the tail extends well beyond a short tail membrane. 
Wingspan:               10-11 inches
Body Length:           2.3-2.6 inches
Weight:                     0.2-0.5 ounces
Florida Roosting Preferences: Colonial.  So far, in Florida, this bat has only been found roosting in buildings.  In Cuba they are known to roost in rock crevices, tree hollows, buildings and the cracks in utility poles.
Food Preferences: Insectivorous. They feed on planthoppers, leafhoppers, grasshoppers, moths, beetles, mayflies and other small flying insects.
Reproduction:  Females give birth to a single pup but may have more than one reproductive cycle in a year.  Pups are born during the summer from June through September.
Florida Status: Uncommon.
Florida Range: Found only in the Florida Keys from Key West to Key Largo.
Note: The velvety free-tailed bat was first discovered in the Florida Keys in 1994.  
It is believed this species arrived in Florida from Cuba as a result of natural causes.  Since then, it has expanded its range throughout most of the Florida Keys from Key West to Key Largo. 

Brazilian free-tailed bat 

Common name:  Brazilian free-tailed bat Scientific name:  Tadarida brasiliensis Family: Molossidae

Photo by Jerry L. Gingerich, D.V.M.

Description: The short fur varies in color from dark brown to grayish brown.  Like other bats in the family Molossidae the tail extends well beyond a short tail membrane.  The upper lips have vertical wrinkles. Long, stiff hair protrudes from the toes and extends beyond the claws.  The Brazilian free-tailed bat has a scent gland that emits a musky odor.  A colony of these bats can be recognized from a distance by the odor alone.  The odor is often mistakenly thought to come from the bat guano.
Wingspan:               11-13 inches
Body Length:           2.2-2.9 inches
Weight:                     0.4-0.5 ounces
Florida Roosting Preferences: Colonial.  This species forms large colonies ranging from a few hundred to several thousand.  It roosts almost totally in man-made structures, primarily, buildings and bridges.  It particularly likes to roost under barrel tile roofs.  This is the most likely species to move into bat houses in Florida.
Food preferences: Insectivorous.  Feeds on moths, flies and beetles.
Reproduction:  Females give birth to a single pup, in early June. 
Florida Status: Common.  This is likely Florida’s most abundant bat. 
Florida Range:  The Brazilian free-tailed bat is found throughout Florida, except the Florida Keys.
Note:  This species is commonly referred to as the Mexican free-tailed bat in the western United States. 

Eastern red bat
 

Common name: Eastern red bat Scientific name: Lasiurus borealis Family: Vespertilionidae

Photo by Ralph Arwood

Description: The fur of male eastern red bats is usually brick-red in color, but can be reddish-orange or yellowish red. The fur of female red bats is duller and lighter in color.  This is unusual because color differences between male and female bats is rare.  A patch of white fur is often found on the shoulders and wrists.  The eastern red bat and the Seminole bat are closely related, and similar in appearance, but the fur of the Seminole bat is more mahogany in color, and there are no color differences between male and female Seminole bats.
Wingspan:         11-13 inches
Body Length:     2.0-2.4 inches
Weight:               0.3-0.5 ounces
Florida Roosting Preferences: Solitary. Roosts in tree foliage or bushes. It usually hangs from small branches or twigs and appears much like a dead leaf.
Food preferences: Insectivorous.  Feeds on moths, beetles, mosquitoes, leafhoppers, planthoppers, flies, and other insects.  Although they capture most of their prey in the air, they have occasionally been observed gleaning insects from objects and the ground.  Can often be seen foraging insects around streetlights.
Reproduction:  Females give birth to one to four pups in late May or early June.
Florida status: Common in north Florida and decrease in abundance to the south.
Florida range: Found in north and central Florida, but not south Florida or the Florida Keys. 

Florida bonneted bat
 

Common name: Florida bonneted bat Scientific name: Eumops floridanus Family: Molossidae

Photo by Ralph Arwood

Description: This is Florida’s largest bat.  Its fur ranges in color from dark gray to brownish gray.  As with other bats in the family Molossidae its tail extends well beyond a short tail membrane.  It has large broad ears that slant forward over the eyes from which it gets the common name of “bonneted bat.”
Wingspan:         19-21 inches
Body Length:     3.3-4.3 inches
Weight:               1.2-1.7 ounces
Florida Roosting Preferences: Colonial. Roosts in cliff crevices, tree cavities and buildings.  In 2003 a small colony was found roosting in a bat house in Fort Myers.
Food Preferences: Insectivorous.  Known to feed on beetles, flies, and true bugs.
Reproduction:  Females give birth to a single pup but may have more than one reproductive cycle per year.  Pups are born during the summer from June through September.
Florida Status: Rare.  Classified as Endangered by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Florida Range: Southern portion of Florida, excluding the Florida Keys
Note: Previously known as Wagner’s mastiff bat (Eumops glaucinus floridanus) but was reclassified in 2004 as a separate species unique to Florida. 

Hoary bat 

Common name: Hoary bat Scientific name: Lasiurus cinereus Family: Vespertilionidae

Photo by Jerry L. Gingerich, D.V.M.

Description: The hoary bat is Florida’s second-largest bat species.  Its long thick fur includes a mix of colors including black, brown, yellow, and cream.  Most of the hair is tipped white, giving it a frosted appearance, from which it receives its common name.  Because of its unusual fur, the hoary bat is likely one of the world’s most beautiful bats.
Wingspan:         13-16 inches
Body Length:     2.8-3.1 inches
Weight:               0.7-1.2 ounces
Florida Roosting Preferences: Solitary.  Roosts in tree foliage, tree cavities, behind loose bark and in Spanish moss. The multicolored, frosted fur of the hoary bat enables it to roost openly on tree trunks while camouflaged against the bark.
Food preferences: Insectivorous.  Feeds on moths, beetles, flies, mosquitoes, grasshoppers, dragonflies, wasps, flying termites, and other insects. 
Reproduction:  Females usually give birth to two pups but may give birth to one to four. Young are born from mid-May to early July.
Florida status: Rare.
Florida range: Found in north and north-central Florida during the months of October through April. 

Rafinesque’s big-eared bat
 

Common name: Rafinesque’s big-eared bat Scientific name: Corynorhinus rafinesquii Family: Vespertilionidae

Photo by Barry Mansell

Description:  Rafinesque’s big-eared bat, as you might guess, has very large ears for its size, measuring roughly an inch in length.  It also has two large facial glands on its muzzle and because of this has occasionally been called the eastern lump-nosed bat.  Its silky fur is grayish brown. 
Wingspan:         10-12 inches
Body Length:     1.5-2.2 inches
Weight:               0.2-0.5 ounces
Florida Roosting Preferences: Colonial.  Usually found roosting in pairs or small groups.  Prefers forested areas. Roosts in the hollows and loose bark of dead trees.  Also roosts in caves.  Occasionally found in abandoned or seldom used buildings in wooded areas.
Food Preferences: Insectivorous.  Moths make up the majority of the diet for this species, but they also feed on other soft-bodied insects. This is the only bat species in Florida that uses gleaning (picking insects up off of foliage or the ground) as a primary means of foraging, although it captures insects in flight as well.
Reproduction:  Females give birth to a single pup in May or early June.
Florida Status: Uncommon in the northern portion of the state and rare in the southern portion. 
Florida Range: Found in scattered locations, mainly in the Florida panhandle and the northern and central portions of the Florida peninsula. 

Southeastern myotis 

Common name:  Southeastern myotis Scientific name:  Myotis austroriparius Family: Vespertilionidae

Description: The fur of the southeastern myotis varies in color from brown to gray, to brownish orange.  The individual hairs are bicolored with the lower portion being darker than the tips.
Wingspan:         9-11 inches
Body Length:     1.9-2.1 inches
Weight:               0.2-0.3 ounces
Florida Roosting Preferences: Colonial.  The southeastern myotis is primarily a cave dwelling species, but also roosts in hollow trees, buildings, bridges, culverts and bat houses. 
Food Preferences: Insectivorous.  Mosquitoes make up a significant portion of the diet of the southeastern myotis, but they also fed on moths, beetles, crane flies and other insects.  They typically forage over ponds, streams, lakes, and rivers near the water’s surface.
Reproduction:  Females usually give birth to two pups during the month of May.  This is unusual, since most myotis species give birth to only one pup.
Florida Status: Common in north Florida and the Florida panhandle.  Uncommon in the central and northeastern portions of the state.
Florida Range: Found in north and central Florida, but not south Florida or the Florida Keys. 

Accidental Bat Species in Florida 

 

What are accidental species?  Species of bats that have been found in Florida on rare occasions but are not permanently or seasonally living in Florida are referred to as accidental species.  There are currently seven species of bats classified as accidental in Florida.  In all cases, only one or two specimens have ever been recorded.  
Northern Accidentals: Species that have arrived in Florida from the north are referred to as northern accidentals. Three species of bats fit this category.  All three are of the family of bats called the Vespertilionidae.  Of these, the Indiana myotis and Northern long-eared bat have not been found in Florida in over fifty years.  The few specimens found in north Florida in the 1950’s may have been left from an earlier population that no longer exists in Florida. 
Indiana myotis (Myotis sodalis)                                         Insectivorous
Northern long-eared myotis (Myotis septentrionalis)    Insectivorous
Silver-haired bat (Lasionycteris noctivagans)                  Insectivorous
Southern Accidentals:  Species that have arrived in Florida from the south are referred to as southern accidentals. Four species of bats fit this category.  All are of the family Phyllostomidae.  In each case, only one or two specimens have been recorded.  To date, these species have only been found in the Florida Keys and south of Miami.
Buffy flower bat (Erophylla sezekorni)                             Frugivorous/Nectarivorous
Cuban flower bat (Phyllonycteris poeyi)                          Frugivorous/Nectarivorous
Jamaican fruit-eating bat (Artibeus jamaicensis)         Frugivorous
Cuban fig-eating bat (Phyllops falcatus)                         Frugivorous