Big Brown Bat

Big Brown Bat

Eptesicus fuscus

Least Concern

Quick Facts

Kingdom: Animalia
Abundance: Common
Habitat: Forest, Urban
Active Seasons: Spring, Summer, Fall
Activity: Nocturnal (Active at night)
Lifespan: up to 19 years

A common, widespread, medium-sized bat with long, chestnut brown fur and hairless black ears, face, wings, and tail. It forages at night over wooded areas, rivers, farmlands, and cities and rests during the day under loose tree bark, in tree hollows, rock crevices, buildings, or caves. The Big Brown Bat feeds on insects and will bite if handled.

Diet

Insects

Activity Pattern

Nocturnal (Active at night)
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Chiroptera
Family: Vespertilionidae
Genus: Eptesicus
Species: Eptesicus fuscus

Scientific Name

Eptesicus fuscus
Breeding Season
Fall
Lifespan
up to 19 years

Behavior

The big brown bat is nocturnal, roosting in sheltered places during the day. It will utilize a wide variety of structures for roosts, including mines, caves, tunnels, buildings, bat boxes, tree cavities, storm drains, wood piles, and rock crevices. They generally roost in cavities, though they can sometimes be found under exfoliating bark. Female big brown bats form maternity colonies to rear young. The size of these colonies can vary from 5 to 700 animals. Males of the species roost alone or in small groups during this time. Both sexes will roost together again in the late summer. Big brown bats enter into hibernation around November, often in a location less than 80 km (50 mi) away from their summer roosts.

Active Seasons

Spring Summer Fall

Activity Pattern

Nocturnal (Active at night)

Habitat Types

Forest
Urban

Geographic Distribution

Distributed widely throughout North America, the Caribbean, and the northern portion of South America.

Local Abundance

Common

Conservation Status

Least Concern

This species is widespread and abundant. No immediate threat to survival.

How You Can Help

  • Report sightings to contribute to population monitoring
  • Support habitat conservation efforts
  • Follow guidelines when observing wildlife
No field notes or observations available for this species.

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