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by
Langston
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Mammalia |
| Order | Chiroptera |
| Family | Vespertillionidae |
| Genus | Myotis |
| Species | Myotis lucifugus |
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| Habitat |
| In the summer, the Little Brown Bat colonies prefer a very hot area with temperatures as high as 131 degrees. Single males can be found under bark and in rock caves. Colonies stay mostly close to water because more insects fly around lakes and ponds. In winter, the bats find areas of the cave with high humidity and where the temperature stays a few degrees above freezing temperature. |
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| Reproduction & Life Cycle |
| Breeding occurs during the fall, and
occasionally during winter hibernation. Sperm is stored and remains
viable in the uterus of the female throughout the winter. in the spring,
the bats come out of hibernation and fertilization occurs. The gestation
period is 50-60 days. Birth dates range from the end of May through the
middle of July. Each female fives birth to one young each year, but some
exceptions may bear twins. During birth, the female reverses her
position, hangs with her head upward and forms a cup with her
uropatagium to catch the fetus. The newborn is blind and must find and
attach itself to a nipple, where it remains until it is half grown -
about two weeks. The young open their eyes on their second day, and can
fly at three weeks of age. They attain adult weight at 4 weeks.
The little brown is a widespread bat that has adapted fairly well to the presence of humans. The species hibernates primarily in caves, but a few can be found in mines and underground quarries with suitable temperatures. These bats seem to prefer slightly warmer and moister areas of caves in which to hibernate than most other species of Myotis bats occurring in Kentucky. They also do not roost in tight clusters; instead they are often observed hanging singly, in rows along cracks in the rock, or in loose clusters. Little brown bats are migratory, and most of the individuals that hibernate in Kentucky caves probably go farther north for the summer. In turn, some of our wintering little browns and ones from farther south likely make up Kentucky’s summer population. Like most other bats, upon leaving their hibernacula females typically gather at maternity colonies, some of which may be composed of several hundred or more individuals. Prior to human settlement, it is believed that little brown bats used hollow trees for summer roosts; however, today most known sites are in barns and buildings, typically in very warm, secluded areas like attics. Each female bears a single pup in June, and the young are on the wing within about three weeks. Some males may roost with the females, but most apparently roost separately, using a variety of sites including buildings, bridges, tree cavities and loose bark of snags. Little brown bats forage in a great variety of habitats from woodland edge and stream corridors, to parks and suburban yards. They feed mostly on small, flying insects. |
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| Food habits |
| Little Brown Bats are insectivores. Food sources include gnats, beetles, crane flies, wasps and moths. They concentrate on insects with aquatic larval stages, so many forage near bodies of water. They use echo-location to find insects. Insects are caught by a wing tip, transferred into a cup formed by curling the tall and interfemoral membrane forward, then the insect is grasped with the teeth. Little brown Bats aren't always successful at feeding attempts. If success rates are low, the bat may enter torpor in order to slow its rate of metabolism. |
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| Humans & Bat |
| Many people become alarmed when bats are found in a neighborhood. Other people welcome the insect-eating guests. They are harmless and beneficial but may stir up excitement if they take up residence in your home. The best way to prevent bats from entering a house or building is to shut the bats out. This is done by sealing with weatherstripping, caulking, or screen any opening which they can enter. This includes cracks around window frames, chimneys, or other structures which vent warm air and attract bats. Other methods such as live-trapping, high frequency sounds, or moth balls may remove bats. Finally, providing a nest box or artificial roosting site may entice bats to use that structure instead of your house. |
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Range |
| Much of North America from middle Alaska south throughout most of Canada and U.S., except southern California and much of southeastern and south-central U.S. |
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| Survival |
| They need in their habitat to survive:
A care or tree near a body of water. A place with very warm temperatures. |
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Populations are stable in the Untied States at this point, but these bats are highly susceptible to pesticide poisoning and habitat destruction. Bat houses may be one important way to insure the bats survival. |
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For comments or questions contact Bob McGowan at bmcgowan@sbschools.net
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