Bats belong to the order Chiroptera, which means hand-wing. They are among the most diverse and geographically dispersed mammals. Of the 4,000+ species of mammals, bats comprise approximately 1,000 of the species; only the rodent family has more species. The ability to fly sets bats apart from all other mammals; flying squirrels actually glide. Bats are found in all climates except the most extreme desert and polar regions. Dietary requirements are also very diverse, and include insects, fruit, nectar, pollen, blood, fish and other vertebrates. Some bats in northern climates hibernate during the cold season while others live in mild equatorial regions and enjoy year-round food supplies. Unfortunately, bats are highly susceptible to environmental and habitat disruption despite their adaptations and abundance.

The United States and Canada is home to approximately 40 species of bats; the majority of these are insect feeders. A few nectar-feeding bat species migrate annually into the Southwestern U.S. from Mexico following the blooming saguaro cactus and agave plants. Contrary to popular belief there are no vampire bats in the United States; the three vampire bat species are found in Latin America and are relatively obscure. New York State is home to nine species of bats, all of which are voracious insect eaters. Only two of these species are readily seen and tend to roost in large colonies occupying man-made structures, the little brown and big brown bats.

Myotis lucifigus Photo by: Merlin Tuttle Bat Conservation International

The most likely bat you will see on an evening stroll in New York is the little brown bat, Myotis lucifugus. This little bat is smaller than a mouse and ranges in color from brown to gray. They are most often spied roosting in buildings, usually old barns, located near a water source like a pond or a stream. Roosts may consist of a couple individuals or can be a large nursery colony numbering in the hundreds. Care should be taken not to bother these nursery colonies; the pups are very susceptible to disturbances.

Little brown bats, as well as all other insect eating bats, employ echolocation in catching airborne insects. This has led to the common misconception that bats are blind. Bats can actually see quite well! These little bats are able to catch up to 1,200 insects in an hour; just imagine what a colony can consume in an evening. Mosquitoes beware! Little brown bats will leave their summertime breeding and feeding grounds to hibernate in caves of suitable temperatures. Look for them to return to your evening skies in late April or May with a healthy appetite for insects.

Eptesicus fuscus Photo by: Merlin Tuttle Bat Conservation International

Big brown bats, Eptesicus fuscus, are commonly found in the same roosts as the little brown bat. Buildings seem to be a favorite roosting area but you may also find these bats in caves, tree hollows or other natural crevices. Big brown bats are also insect eaters and can consume quite a number of insects each night. A colony of 150 big brown bats can consume enough cucumber beetles to prevent the laying of more than 33 million rootworm larvae each summer. Rootworm larvae are one of the more destructive crop pests to farmers. Big brown bats usually hibernate for the winter months in caves, but they can sometimes be found under eaves or shutters hibernating alone. These amazing bats are able to survive sub-freezing temperatures by carefully regulating their metabolism.

The other species of bats found in New York are solitary in nature and tend to roost away from man-made structures. They utilize tree hollows, crevices, bark and leaves. These bats include the Silver-haired bat, Lasionycteris noctivagans; Hoary bat, Lasiurus cinereus; Red bat, Lasiurus borealis; Small-footed Myotis, Myotis leibii; Eastern Long-eared Myotis, Myotis septentrionalis; Eastern Pipistrelle, Pipistrellus subflavus and the endangered Indiana Myotis, Myotis sodalis.

Bats play an essential role in keeping night flying insects and farm pests under control. If one bat can catch over a thousand insects in an hour, imagine the dent a colony can make in nighttime biting insects. In Bracken Caves, TX, the colony of 20 million Mexican free-tails Tadarida brasiliensis consumes 200 tons of insects each evening! In the biologically diverse rainforests, bats are primary pollinators for numerous plant species. In fact, bats pollinate more rainforest species that any other pollinator. I recommend reading Merlin Tuttle’s book, America's Neighborhood Bats, or logging onto Bat Conservation International’s website at www.batcon.org for more information on the amazing bat diversity found in Upstate New York and around the world. So next time you are out for a hike at dusk, look above, you may see some bats zigzagging overhead in pursuit of some insects.

I’ve been building various sized bat houses and will strive to put them up this summer. If you are interested in purchasing one or seeing one up and hopefully ‘in action’, stop by our farm.