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| Bats, like birds, possess the power of flight. They fly with wings that consist of a broad membrane of skin stretching from the hind feet to elongated finger bones of the forearms. Only their thumbs are free of the wing membrane, creating hooks with which a bat can cling to, or move about on rough, flat surfaces, either vertical or horizontal. They are usually found in areas along streams and lakes. In the summer, they form nursery colonies, usually in buildings or other structures. In late spring, female Bats give birth to a single young, usually in a building, occasionally in a hollow tree. In winter, some Bats migrate several hundred miles to a hibernating site; they often can be seen swarming at cave entrances. Bats rely on a system of echoes rather than sight for navigation. Besides echo location clicks pitched well above our hearing range, this species produces warning "honks" when on a collision course with other Bats during feeding or near roosts. The nature and return time of the echoes tell the bat the nature and distance of nearby objects. This ability allows them ability to navigate in total darkness. They feed other flying insects, especially flies and moths. They catch their food by scooping them into a pouch formed by a continuation of the wing membrane, from the hind feet to the tail. After seizing their prey, they transfer it to the mouth and consume it while still airborne. The Bat’s nitrate-rich guano was sold as fertilizer in the first half of the 20th century. Warning Bats are susceptible to rabies, a serious viral disease that results in death if untreated. Rabid Bats rarely attack humans or other animals, but Bats found lying on the ground may be rabid. Never touch or pick up any bat. Stay away from any animal that seems to be acting strangely and report it to animal-control officers. If a possibly rabid animal bites you, immediately consult a doctor for a series of injections; there is no cure once symptoms emerge. |
(Family Vespertilionidae)
Little Brown Bat (Myotis lucifugus)
Hoary Bat (Lasiurus cinereus)
Northern Long-eared Bat (Myotis septentrionalis)
Silver-haired Bat (Lasionycteris noctivagans)
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