Big Brown Bat (Eptesicus fuscus)
Physical Description
As their name describes, they are one of the largest bats found in the state of Kentucky. They can reach sizes of 5 inches long and a wingspan of 13 inches or more. They are a glossy brown and lighter color underneath. They are also characterized by a hairless snout and a keeled calcar.
Range and Presence in Kentucky
These bats have an enormous range that extends from central Canada all the way down through northern South America. They are a year-round resident of the state of Kentucky. It is likely that they travel short distances between summer and winter roosts. It has been found that they seem to be absent from the Mississippi Alluvial Plain in the western part of Kentucky.
Habitat and Behavior
When people come into contact with bats, this is usually the species that they encounter. The big brown bat is a species that has adapted well to the presence of people. They normally roost in man-made structures, like abandoned buildings, attics, barns, and even the eaves of buildings. During hibernation, they prefer the environment that caves provide and will do so in the coldest part of the caves near the entrance in rock crevices.
The maternity colonies of big brown bats are even found in buildings or under bridges. They can consist of up to 100 females and each female usually gives birth to twins in early June. During this time, the males will roost solitarily and away from the maternity colonies.
Big brown bats are insectivores and have been referred to as “friends of farmers” because they will eat insects that can cause serious damage to their crops. They also forage in a lot of other areas that are open, semi-open, and even around streetlights.
Threats
Although they have adapted well to people, there are still threats to the populations, like white-nose syndrome. These bats have seen serious number decreases in the northeastern United States as a result of deaths due to white-nose syndrome.
Bat Species
Rafinesque’s big-eared bat (Corynorhinus rafinesquii)
Silver-haired bat (Lasionycteris noctivagans)
Seminole bat (Lasiurus seminolus)
Little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus)
Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis)
Virginia big-eared bat (Corynorhinus townsendii virginianus)
Red bat (Lasiurus borealis)
Gray bat (Myotis grisescens)
Eastern small-footed myotis (Myotis leibii)
Evening bat (Nycticeius humeralis)
Hoary bat (Lasiurus cinereus)
Southeastern myotis (Myotis austroriparius)
Northern bat (Myotis septentrionalis)
Eastern pipistrelle (Pipistrellus subflavus)
Bat Related Diseases
Histoplasmosis
Rabies
White-Nose Syndrome