By The Save Lucy Campaignwww.saveLucythebat.org

Photographic Guide to Bats

in VA and MD

Slide show is intended for bat rehabilitators and bat enthusiasts. Please feel free to distribute, but be nice and credit the source.

This is a work in progress. Species will be added as photos are procured.

All photos belong to Rich Sturges and/or The Save Lucy Campaign, unless otherwise noted.

In a very few instances, photo credit is unknown. If we have used a photo that belongs to you or your agency, please let us know who to credit. Thanks in advance!

Important information

Important parts of a bat

FACIAL FEATURES

Tragus

The narrow element in the ear

EARS

Shape

Length

SIDE VIEW

Color of dorsal vs.ventral fur

Color of wing, tail membrane

Overall size

FOREARM

Measure!!

FOOT

Measure!!

Toe Hairs

Copious?

Long?

Usually need magnification and very good light to see

Keel

Yes!!

No!!

Membrane Attachment

At top of toe

At ankle

Only important for a few species

CLAWS

Some species have notched claws

This one does not

FUR

Look for bands of color or uniform throughout

Colors will vary within species

NonmigratoryUses buildings summer and winterAlso uses caves and mines for

hibernationBeetle eater16—20+ grams; 14 inch wingspan2 young per year born late

May early JuneLifespan 15—18 years

Big Brown Bat

Often uses buildings or barns in summer

Migrates to caves in winter—may move 200+ miles to reach appropriatehibernacula

Forms large coloniesMay roost with other myotis

species7—9 grams; 9 inch wingspanOne pup per yearLifespan 30+ years

Little Brown Bat

CompareBig Brown Bat Little Brown Bat

ENDANGERED Uses building roosts, but also

associated with old trees with sloughing bark

Is known to roost with Little Brown Bats

Same size and very similar appearance to Little Brown Bat

Nose is slightly shorter; face has a pinkish cast; keeled calcar; sparse, short toe hairs; small foot

Migrates to caves for winter; recovered over 200 miles from banding sites

Indiana Bat

Courtesy: John Chenger, Bat Conservation & Management, Inc.

Courtesy: NY DEC

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Photo by Adam Mann, Environmental Solutions and Innovations

Little Brown Bat Indiana Bat

Closely related to Indiana bats and Little Brown Bats; very similar in appearance

Extremely long ears, extend 4mm past nose when pushed forward

May roost with other myotis species or in small colonies of conspecifics

Same size as Little Brown/Indiana Bats

Migrates to caves for winter

Northern Long-Eared Bat

Smallest bat in region; 3—5gDistinctive black maskFoot is only 8mm; keeled calcarForearm 30—36mmAssociated with scree and talus

slopesLargest known hibernacula for

this species WERE in NY, now MDRare across range4—5 gramsDependant on puddles and road

ruts for drinking water

Eastern Small-Footed Bat

Small bat; 6—12 gramsForearm 33—39mmTragus short, curved, roundedUsually uniformly dark Range is mainly south of LBB’s

but overlaps in mid-AtlanticBut looks like a mini Big BrownUses buildings in summerNo one knows what they do in

winter, but one was recovered from a moving box in winter. Possibly had been in attic.

Evening Bat

Formerly Eastern pipistrelleVery small bat with reddish

brown fur and red forearms6—10gForearm 31--35mmBanded fur; dark, light, darkForms small maternity colonies in tree

hollows and sometimes under decks and in open lofts

Has twins; pups are under 1 g at birth

Migrates to caves for winterAlso killed at turbine sites

Tricolored Bat

Very distinctive; black with silver tipping on dorsal fur

Medium sized ; 8—12gForearm 37—44mmConsidered highly migratory;

found dead at wind turbinesNot usually associated with

buildings, but have been recovered from open sheds and garages during winter

Some use caves in winterForm small maternity colonies

in tree hollows in northeast or inhigher elevations in mid-Atlantic

Silver Hair Bats

Very distinctive; buffy, gray, & rust fur; black points; black rims on ears.

Forearm 46—58mmLargest North American Bat;

20—38 gramsMigratory; may move from

Canada to MexicoFoliage bat; does not use

buildingsHighly impacted by wind

turbines

Hoary Bat

Buffy, sandy, or redMedium sized bat; 9—15gForearm 35-45mmHighly migratory;

common wind turbine victims

Foliage bat; does not use buildings

Solitary; raises young in tree foliage

Mates on the wingOften hit by carsProne to window strikesBlue Jays prey on mothers with young

Eastern Red Bat

ENDANGERED Lumpy nose Ears more than 1” long 9—12 g Cave dependant year round Very sensitive to

disturbance Virginia state bat!

Virginia Big Ear Bat

Rafinesque’s Big Ear Bat State ENDANGERED Very similar to VBEB Ears more than 1” long 8—14 g Highly associated with tree

hollows in swamps, but uses other habitats in range