Hobbies And Interests
Little Brown Myotis
The little brown Myotis, or the little brown bat, is one of the most common species in the United States and in West Virginia. They commonly live in caves, abandoned mines, hollow trees, cliffs and often near houses. Little brown Myotis are about 3 inches long with a wingspan of up to 10 inches. Their fur is glossy and brown and their wings are black. They eat insects such as moths, flies, mosquitoes and beetles. Throughout the winter they hibernate in mines and caves. They return to the same hibernation spots every year. Females leave the hibernation spots and gather in colonies to roost in attics and barns while the solitary males roost in places like hollow trees.
Big Brown Bat
Big brown bats can be found in much of the United States and are about 5 inches long with a wingspan of about 1 foot. They have dark brown fur and black ears and wings. They mostly hunt beetles. Found in both urban and rural habitats, they emerge at dusk and are commonly found within the same feeding grounds. They are among the last bats to go into hibernation and usually seek shelter in buildings, caves, mines and storm sewers.
Eastern Pipistrelle
Eastern pipistrelles live in the eastern United States. They are less than 4 inches long and have a wingspan of up to 10 inches. Their fur is gray at the base, and light brown to dark brown on their backs. Pipistrelles emerge in the early evening to eat insects such as flies and moths. In the summer, they usually live in woods, close to water, or around cliffs and caves. Caves are their preferred hibernation sites.
Some Other Species
Various other species of bats inhabit West Virginia, such as the silver-haired bat, the red bat, the boary bat, the evening bat, the Indiana bat, the small-footed Myotis and the Virginia Big-eared bat. Sightings of these species are usually uncommon.