Hobbies And Interests
Hoary Bat
The hoary bat, or Lasiurus cinereous, is the largest bat found in Pennsylvania, but is not very common. Its body length is between 5.1 inches and 5.9 inches and its wingspan is between 14.6 inches and 16.6 inches. It weighs between 0.88 oz. and 1.58 oz. and has dark, brown fur heavily tinged with white. It lives in dense tree foliage, preferably coniferous, during the summer and migrates south in the winter. The female gives birth while hanging from a tree. They eat insects, but also eat tri-colored bats on occasion.
Big Brown Bat
The big brown bat, or Eptesicus fuscus, is the second-largest bat found in Pennsylvania and is called "the farmer's friend." Its body length is between 4.1inches and 4.8 inches and its wingspan is between 12.1 inches and 12.9 inches. It weighs between 0.43 oz. and 0.56 oz. and has dark brown fur with blackish colored face, ears and flight membranes. It is common all over the state, coming out of attics, belfries, barns, hollow trees and caves as dusk falls. They seek out caves, mines, sewers tunnels and old buildings to hibernate in sometime during October, November or as late as December and remain until March or even April. Females give birth in June and may have two offspring at a time.
Tri-Colored Bat
The tri-colored bat, or Perimyotis sublevels, was formerly known as the Eastern Pipistrelle. It is also called the pygmy bat since its body length is only between 2.9 inches and 3.5 inches and its wingspan between 8.1 inches and 10.1 inches. It weighs between 0.14 oz. and 0.25 oz. and its fur is a yellowish brown that gets darker on its back. This species comes out early in the evening and flies in short, elliptical flight patterns at treetop level. They begin hibernation in September and remain deep within caves until April or early May. They are found everywhere throughout Pennsylvania except the southeastern corner. Females give birth, usually to two offspring in June or July.
Indiana Bat
The Indiana bat, or Myotis sodalis, looks similar to the little brown bat. The major differences include a pinkish tinge to the fur and a distinctive bulge on the edge of its tail membrane. Its toes are also curled and have short fine hair that stop at the knuckles. Its body length is between 2.9 inches and 3.7 inches and wingspan is between 9.4 inches and 10.3 inches. The Indiana bat weighs between 0.18 oz. and 0.28 oz. . It roosts under the bark of trees in Pennsylvania during the summer and migrates to certain large caves in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky and Missouri to hibernate in clusters of about 250 bats per square foot for the winter. Females give birth in late June, usually to just one offspring.
Little Brown Bat
The little brown bat, or Myotis lucifugus, is the most common bat in Pennsylvania and is found all over the state. Its length, including its tail is between 3.1 inches and 3.7 inches and wingspan is between 8.6 inches and 10.5 inches. It weighs between 0.25 oz. and 0.35 oz. and females are usually slightly larger than males. Body fur is usually a rich brown, almost bronze in color with a darker spot on the shoulders and wings are bare and black. This species uses either its wings or tail membrane to catch insects and skims the water to drink when it first emerges at dusk. They return to the same caves or tunnels to hibernate in beginning in October and November, and remain until April and May. Females gather in colonies to give birth in June or July and give birth to one offspring which is fully grown within four weeks.
Eastern Red Bat
The Eastern Red Bat or Lasiurus borealis has rust-colored fur and long pointed wings with a wingspan of between 11.3 inches and 13.9 inches. Its body length is between 3.7 inches and 4.8 inches and weight is between 0.28 oz. and 0.49 oz. . Individual bats roost by themselves in trees and hedgerows, unless they are females with young. Then, they roost together in treetops. Females may give birth to up to five offspring, which remain clinging to their mothers for several days as she flies off to hunt. Young are able to fly themselves at about three to four weeks and are weaned at five or six weeks. Red bats begin flying south in September or October, with males and females migrating separately.
Silver-Haired Bat
The silver-haired bat, or Lasionycteris noctivagans, has a body length of between 3.7 inches and 4.5 inches and a wingspan of between 10.5 inches and 12.1 inches. Its fur is long and soft and is a blackish-brown tipped with white giving a frosted appearance. It roosts in wooded areas around lakes and streams and may begin feeding before sunset. They migrate south in the winter and, while a few breed in cooler areas of Pennsylvania during the summer, most head farther north.
Northern Long Ear Bat
The northern long ear bat, or Myotis septentrionalis, is similar in appearance to the little brown bat but has longer, narrower ears and a longer tail. It has been seen throughout Pennsylvania, but is less common than the little brown bat. Its body length is between 3.0 inches and 3.7 inches and wingspan is between 9.0 inches and 10.7 inches. It weighs between 0.25 oz. and 0.32 oz. and is thought to have similar roosting, feeding and breeding habits as the little brown bat.
Small-Footed Bat
The small-footed bat, or Myotis leibii, has been seen in Pennsylvania, but is rare and currently classified as threatened. Its length is between 2.8 inches and 3.3 inches and wing span is between 8.3 inches and 9.7 inches. This bat, also known as Leib's bat weighs between 0.18 oz. and 0.28 oz. and has a golden tint to its fur with a distinctive black mask around its eyes. It also has small feet and forearms that are ill-proportioned to the rest of its body and wings. Feeding, breeding and roosting habits are thought to be similar to the little brown bat and it hibernates between November and March in small caves, either singularly or in small groups in narrow cracks close to the entrance.