Red Bat
As the name indicates, this is a colorful bat, varying from bright reddish to orange.
About This Species
It is a medium-sized bat with long pointed wings and a distinctly long tail and furred uropatagium. The unusual hibernating behavior of this species is of special interest to science. Red bats survive at subfreezing temperatures and are able to arouse readily from deep sleep.
Living with Bats
There are 18 species of bat that call Colorado home. These amazing mammals are not only fantastic insect control, but are also valuable pollinators. Learn more about how humans and bats can live in harmony in our guide.
Bat Conservation
Bats remain one of the most mysterious land mammals, especially in Colorado, where 18 species spend at least part of the year. For example, the little brown bats in our state seem to hibernate differently than those on the east coast, and we are constantly learning about their whereabouts, habitats and behaviors. Our current research suggests that bat populations in Colorado are doing quite well.
One little brown bat can eat up to 18,000 small insects (like mosquitoes) each night. Their economic impact is estimated to be billions of dollars, and much of the agricultural industry relies on their insect control.
Beyond their economic impact, bats flaunt some impressive adaptations. They are the only mammal that truly flies, which requires a very unique anatomy. Their upside-down lifestyle requires adaptations in their “feet” to consistently grip. If people hanged upside down for even an hour, we’d lose consciousness; bats have developed amazing blood pressure accommodations to fit the lifestyle.
We are currently involved in a monitoring partnership called the North American Bat Monitoring Program (NA Bat). The program utilizes acoustic surveys to collect information on bat populations without interfering with their behaviors. We also are using PIT tags, like the chips put in household pets, to monitor a number of maternity sites. While data collection will take years, we’ve already learned new information about Colorado’s bat population, the most heartening of which is that the population appears larger and more widespread than we’d thought. This is an excellent start to learning more about the species, but we’ve got lots of problem-solving and technological innovation left to do.
Our priorities also include learning more about bats so that we are prepared for the potential spread of White-nose Syndrome. Finding and monitoring bats is crucial to this effort, but also comes with its own challenges. Because bats are small, flying mammals, much of the equipment used to track other species is too heavy for them. And during the winter, Colorado bats are very elusive, choosing to hibernate in small groups often in locations that are inaccessible to people.
More Information:
Physical Characteristics
Average measurements of 11 females from Kansas were: total length, 114 mm; forearm, 53 mm; wingspan, 300 mm.
Range
Mostly a species of the eastern United States, the red bat also occurs in the southwestern U.S. and Mexico.
In Colorado, it apparently is rare, and mostly is found in riparian woodlands (and artificial extensions such as urban landscaping) along the South Platte and Arkansas rivers and major tributaries of the eastern plains and Front Range.
Habitat
The red bat is solitary and roosts by day in deciduous trees, such as cottonwoods or fruit trees. It seems to prefer American elms where it hangs among the leaves. Red bats usually are well hidden and only can be seen from directly below. They usually roost 4-10 feet off the ground unless they have young, in which case they will be found up to 20 feet high in the tree. Red bats are highly migratory and migrate in groups. Males and females apparently migrate separately, however. Hibernation occurs in the southern states (not in Colorado) where these bats may arouse and forage throughout the winter.
Diet
More than other bats, red bats seem to take advantage of insects attracted to lights, and they often are found feeding near street lamps where they appear to be territorial. They alight and feed on non-flying insects, including grasshoppers and crickets. They feed near moth-infested areas, which is certainly a benefit to humans. Foraging occurs in early evening when they leave their roosts and fly in high, lazy patterns over the trees and along forest edges. When it is dark, they descend and feed below the treetops to within a few feet of the ground.
Reproduction
Breeding occurs in the fall. Sperm cells are stored by the female until spring when ovulation and fertilization occur. Gestation takes 80 to 90 days. The red bat typically gives birth to twins (although four young are known) in the early summer. The young are carried by the female from one roost to another and occasionally on feeding flights. Offspring are cared for until they are nearly fully grown. Some reports indicate that the mother carries the young until their weight equals her own. Young red bats are weaned in 4 to 6 weeks and can fly at 3 to 6 weeks of age.
Threats to Species
Predators include opossums, domestic cats, hawks and owls.