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Bat World Everglades
provides statewide rescue throughout the year in Florida, and
rescues up to 200 bats annually. Florida's bats are active
year-round.
If
you have found a bat, contact us at 863 494-3974
If you have been
bitten by a bat, have had the bat come in contact with mucous
membranes or have small children who have handled the bat, contact
your local health department.
Downed Bats
Often in the winter
months, people find bats that have fallen while in torpor
(short-term hibernation). When the weather is cold, few
insects are flying about and are available as food for the bats.
Bats can thermo-regulate to save body energy until the cold or
inclement weather passes and insects are available again.
When bats are in the state of torpor, they are inactive and can
not fly. Warming the bat will often allow the bat to become
active again to fly away. If you have doubts or believe the
bat is injured, contact us at once. If you find a bat during
the months of September through February - it is not a baby bat.
Some bats are very small.
Baby Bats
In Florida, pup season
starts earlier than in most parts of the United States. Pup
season can start as early as April and last as late as August.
Baby bats can have fur or no fur depending on the species (most
babies found do not have fur). Baby bats can not fly.
With this in mind, the Florida
Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has set the
recommendation that no bat exclusions (humanely getting bats out
of buildings) be performed within the state of Florida between
April 15 and August 15. If you hear of a pest control
company performing exclusions within this time or of any
performing inhumane exclusions, please contact us.
It is critical that
baby bats get the proper care as soon as possible. Keep
the baby bat warm and contact a rehabilitator in your area as soon
as possible! Time is critical. See local
rescue for a list of bat rehabilitators or contact us.
Bats Most Often
Encountered in Florida
The most common bats
encountered in southwest Florida are the evening bat and Brazilian
free-tailed bat. Brazilian free-tailed bats are found
throughout the state, the roosting preferences for these very
adaptable bats are barrel tile roofs, buildings, tree hollows and
holes and man-made structures. Brazilian free-tailed bats tolerate
very warm temperatures (above 100° F) very well. They are active
all night and can forage up to 150 miles away, though most forage
within 50 miles. These bats are most often found roosting with
evening bats.
Evening bats
are very small dark brown bats,
often thought to be young when found by people. Evening bats are
found in temperate deciduous woodland or mixed woodlands and open
areas. Roosting preferences are tree hollows, especially Cyprus
but also have adapted to using man-made structures.
The big brown bat is
found in a wide range of habitats of the upper two-thirds of
Florida and in a small pocket in Lee County. They occupy
farmlands, cities, parks and forests. Typical roosts are bridges,
tree hollows, snags, attics, barns or other man made structures,
as these bats are very adaptable. This species will usually use
the same foraging routes night after night. Foraging starts
anywhere from 20 minutes to one hour after sunset, though as with
other bats, they do not forage in the rain or cold temperatures.
Southeastern myotis are
found in the upper half of the state and tend to live near
streams, ponds and reservoirs. Most often maternity colonies are
located above water within the cave. Southeasterns have also been
found roosting in buildings, culverts, bridges, old mine shafts
and hollow trees in areas where caves are not abundant, however
these roosts are rare for this species. They begin feeding later
in the evening and usually fly within two feet of the surface of
water to catch insects. Even though this species is listed of
special concern, Florida has the highest concentration of these
bats and their maternity caves in the world.
One of the most common
bats in northern Florida is the eastern red bat. Eastern red bats
are found in the upper two thirds of Florida. As the name
indicates, these bats are a bright orangish-red. Unlike most bats,
red bats are sexually dimorphic in color. Males are more brightly
colored than females, which are a dirtier sandy red color. Red
bats inhabit forests, forest edges and hedgerows. Red bats prefer
to roost in the dense foliage of deciduous trees with a preference
for American elms, as their coloration allows them to blend in,
often hanging by one foot and looking like a leaf. They are swift
flyers and are often seen foraging around streetlights. They
are found on the ground when they are often blown out of trees
during storms when mothers have young. These bats have
multiple young and therefore are unable to fly due to the weight
of the young.
Another common bat is
the Seminole bat. These bats are found throughout the state and
look very much like the eastern red bat except that its coloration
is a deeper auburn-mahogany color. They are greatly associated
with the distribution of Spanish moss, which they use as roosts.
These bats will use the moss in a tree, especially longleaf pine
and oaks that border a clearing. These bats have habits and young
in a similar manner as the eastern red bat.
Though found throughout
the state, the most common species of solitary bat found in
southern Florida is the northern yellow bat. These bats are yellow
to dirty blonde in color and are larger than the red and Seminole
bats. They are very abundant in areas that have orange
groves and pastures. They roost in Spanish moss in trees,
especially longleaf pine and turkey oak trees. They will also
roost in dead palm fronds that lay next to the palm tree.
These bats often get displaced when landscapers trim palms for
people or become downed in the same manner as red and Seminole
bats when having young.
Bat Conservation
Bats are disappearing at
alarming rates. Bats are persecuted by humans because of fear and
misconceptions. Education is one of the priorities of the Bat
World Everglades. Educators travel throughout the state to spread
the word about these beneficial animals. Bat World Everglades also
does field research and surveys.
Disturbance or
destruction of roost sites due to development and vandalism is the
greatest threat to our bats. Most bats living in Florida prefer to
roost in mature or dead trees or in caves. However, many
bats are forced to take up residence in human dwellings or other
buildings due to loss of these types of habitat. One can help bats
by putting up bat houses. This provides bats with a safe place to
live. The bats will in turn eat many insect pests in your area.
For more information on some of the best bat houses for
sale - see Backyard Bird
Company. |
