Kentucky Bats

Coming out at night (and not just on Halloween) they hunt for flying insects. Bats are unique animals. They are the only mammals to actually fly.

Bats are the subject of myth and lore but what is the truth about these fascinating animals. This article will cover some basic facts about bats and take a close-up look at several species in Kentucky.

Are Bats Dangerous?

Let’s cut to the chase! No bats are not dangerous. They naturally try to avoid humans and are not aggressive animals.

Bats have a bad reputation because they don’t look like any other species, fly around at night, and yes they can carry rabies.

If you are worried about your blood supply, don’t be. Kentucky doesn’t have the notorious vampire bat. They live in Mexico and Central America and feed on non- human animal blood.

Rabies is not a common disease among bats however, never pick up a bat from the ground (more on bat rescue later)

Little brown bat flying. Photo byAndy Reago

How Do Bats Fly?

Bats are the only mammals to truly fly. Flying squirrels are actually gliders.

The forelimbs on a bat stretch out from their body and are covered by a thin layer of skin called a patagium.

Hold out your hand with your fingers spread wide. Now imagine if there were skin between your fingers. That’s what a bat’s wings are like only with thinner fingers.

Bats fly by “swimming” through the air. They use their wings to row and push air backward while propelling themselves forward.

Bats' wings are more flexible than a bird’s wings giving them the ability to hover, glide, and maneuver quickly in the air. A good thing when you are trying to catch flying insects.

Interesting Bat Facts

• Bat wings have more bones than bird wings

• Bats can live more than 30 years

• Bats can eat 800 mosquitos in an hour!

• Only major predator of night flying insects

• Bats have few natural predators

• Small but fast - some species can reach 100 miles per hour

• Just like your cat, bats spend a lot of time grooming themselves

How Many Species of Bats Live in Kentucky?

Kentucky has fourteen bats that live here permanently or seasonal. We also have two species that seem to be moving their range up into Kentucky.

Many bat species like caves and Kentucky has plenty of those! Bats also roost under tree bark or in the canopy of large hardwood trees.

Are there endangered bats in Kentucky?

Kentucky is home to three species of bats that are on the federal endangered species list. The Virginia big eared bat (Corynorhinus townsendii virginianus), the Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis), and the gray bat (Myotis grisescens).

The Northern long-eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis) is listed as federally threatened.

Why are bats endangered?

Bat populations have been affected by many human-caused impacts. The saddest is vandalism and theft of bats while they hibernate in winter caves. The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife works to block off key caves during the winter to protect bats.

When bats are disrupted by humans in winter it interrupts their hibernation cycle. The Department of Fish and Wildlife states that interference causes bats to lose stored fat reserves, and repeated disturbance can cause the bats to die before spring insects emerge for them to feed on.

Other reasons include the loss of forest habitat and pesticides that kill their food sources.

Little brown bat displaying white nose syndrome. Photo by Moriarty Marvin, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

White Nose Syndrome

White-nose disease, a recent development, is also having a grave impact. It is caused by the fungus, Pseudogymnoascus destructans, or Pd for short.

The disease gets its name from the white fuzz on the face. It attacks bats during periods of hibernation causing the bat’s body to use energy as it fights the fungus.

Pd can last a long time in the environment. Spelunkers and others who enter caves are asked to remove and wash clothes as soon as they leave the cave so they don’t spread the disease. The disease has been shown to be spreadable and has indeed spread across the world.

White-nose Syndrome was first confirmed in 2011 in Kentucky and has killed millions of bats. Both Carter Caves state park and Land Between the Lakes have seen significant population loss especially.

Big Brown Bat in Land Between the Lakes, KY. Photo by John MacGregor

Big Brown Bat

The Big Brown bat lives in Kentucky all year long. They live throughout the state and are the most likely bat you are to see. A larger bat, they grow to about five inches long with a wingspan just over a foot.

Big Brown’s have adapted well to human development. They often live in buildings and under bridges.

They eat a variety of insects including cucumber beetles which gives them the rightly deserved nickname the farmer’s friend. They come out at night to hunt for insects and can often be seen hunting their prey around street lights.

Females live together in colonies and give birth to pups in June. They typically have twins.

The Big Brown bat is susceptible to white-nose disease.

Eastern red bat female with three pups. Photo by Josh Henderson

Eastern Red Bat (Lasiurus borealis)

This is a larger bat about five inches with a thirteen-inch wingspan. The Eastern Red bat is a gorgeous reddish-orange color.

They eat moths including the gypsy moth and the tent caterpillar moths.

The females have an average of three pups per liter.

These bats are preyed upon by owls and hawks.

Indiana Bat (Myotis sodalis)

The Indiana bat is a small to medium-sized bat approximately three inches in length, with a wingspan of ten inches. It has a pinkish-colored nose and a grey-brown body.

One reason they like Kentucky is that they like to hibernate in limestone caves. During the summer they roost in trees.

Indiana Brown bat. Photo by Susi vonOettingen US Fish and Wildlife Service

They mate in fall and enter hibernation in late October through November. Their habit of congregating in large groups during the winter has earned them the nickname the social bat.

Females emerge in late March and move to maternity colonies under large canopy trees. They give birth to one pup in June. Baby Indiana bats can fly in about one month.

Seminole bat

Seminole Bat (Lasiurus seminolus)

The Seminole bat is not native to Kentucky and typically lives further south in Georgia, North Carolina, and Alabama.

They have expanded their range and now appear to be breeding in the state. Maternity colonies have been documented at Land Between the Lakes and Mammoth Caves.

The Seminole bat is a beautiful mahogany color and is four inches long. They are a tree bat and roost in pine trees and in Spanish moss in the south. They eat a variety of insects including crickets, wasps, and beetles.

Virginia Bat (Corynorhinus townsendii virginianus)

Another endangered bat in both Kentucky and the United States. A small bat between three and four inches long with a wingspan of about twelve inches. They have a distinctive face with inch-long ears and two glands above the muzzle.

They are rare with small isolated pockets of them in Eastern Kentucky. They don’t migrate and live in Kentucky years round in limestone caves and sinkholes.

Mating occurs in the fall and the females store the sperm until spring. The females stay in the caves through the summer to raise their young.

Males leave the caves and there is not much scientific knowledge on what they do during the summer months.

Virginia bats hibernating in a cave. Photo by Jeff Hajenga, US Fish and Wildlife Service

Why Are Bats Important?

Bats play a crucial role in their ecosystem. First off not only do they eat insects of all types but they eat the annoying mosquito.

Because bats eat large amounts of “bad” insects such as cucumber beetles they are an important help to farmers. US FW states bats eat enough pests to save more than $1 billion per year in crop damage and pesticide costs in the United States corn industry alone.

Saving bats is important. Dr. Jorge Ortega from the National Polytechnic Institute of Mexico is working on a vaccine for bats with White-Nose Syndrome.

"Today, more than ever, white-nose syndrome is a latent threat to our bat populations. It is our duty to protect them to maintain the good health of our ecosystems with all their interacting agents," said Dr. Ortega.

Rescue and Rehabilitation

Bats are often brought into wildlife rehabilitation centers. Not all rehabbers accept bats because they take some very special skills and enclosures. Many bat rehabilitators take classes to learn more about these unique animals and how to care for them.

In Kentucky Second Chances Wildlife Rehabilitation outside of Louisville does a great job with bats.

What To Do If You Find An Injured or Orphaned Bat

Sometimes people find bats in unusual places such as on a sidewalk, near a home, or even inside the home. If the bat appears to not be able to move or has a bent or crocked wing they may need rehabilitation.

Never handle a bat with bare hands!! Bats have small teeth and you may not realize you were bitten.

In addition, I have known of several incidences where people were bitten and had to undergo preventative rabies treatment because they did not take precautions.

• If you find a bat immediately call a wildlife rehabilitator for further advice.

• Use welding gloves or a thick towel to pick up the bat and place it in a bucket or box.

• Keep it in a warm quiet place until you can transport it to a wildlife rehabilitator.

Diseases/Zoonoses

Bats are a rabies vector species and are the #1 carrier of rabies in the state of Kentucky. Keep in mind that less than one percent of the bat population has rabies.

We often see rabies in Big Brown bats since they are the most common bat in Kentucky and they live in close proximity to humans. Several bats in Louisville, Kentucky did test positive for rabies during the summer of 2021.

Threats

Bats will sometimes roost in homes or barns. Especially older wooden buildings.

All wildlife species are protected by Kentucky law including bats. It is against the law to kill any bat in Kentucky.

There are several ways to protect your property from bats.

Make sure there are no holes or places wildlife can enter the home.

Check around gutters and facia especially for lose siding

Bats can enter a hole as small as 3/8 inch in diameter. They can crawl through openings.

You can locate bat entryways by looking for their droppings which will be outside the opening.

The best time to seal up a home is between November and February when the bats have left for their hibernation location.

Tip: On a bright sunny day go into your attic. Leave the lights off and look for places the light comes in from outside.

Improve habitat for species

One way to help bats is to provide a bat house. Bats can be fussy about the design and location of the bat house.

Like birds make sure you follow directions to attract the bat species in your area.

Bat nurseries should have a fairly stable temperature of 80-110°F depending on the species. It helps if the bat house is as airtight as possible.

Glue external joints with silicone caulk to prevent heat loss.

Help bats by placing bat houses on your property.

Bats are susceptible to chemicals so don’t use paint or stain on the box.

Rough lumber is great because it helps give the bats something to cling to.

Western red cedar, redwood, or Cyprus are great woods to use.

Bat houses should be erected from 10 to 15 feet above the ground, facing the morning sun, and protected from the prevailing (north and west) winds.

Don’t place a bat house where the entrance is blocked by tree limbs or vegetation. A side of an old building or barn is a great place.



Literature/Folklore

Bats are prevalent in literature and folklore. Many cultures have bats in their origin stories.

Traditional Navajo folklore tells of bats in the earliest world when the world was dark. Twelve insects and the bat revolved around in the darkness. The bat is seen as the mentor of the night. Bats are viewed as messengers and affiliated with Talking God.

A classic children's story of love and acceptance. One of my favorites.

Author, Ame Vanorio, is the director of Fox Run Environmental Education Center.