What is unique about the big brown bat?

Big brown bats are reported to be one of the fastest bats reaching speeds of up to 40 mph. This bat utilizes echolocation to avoid obstacles during flight and to capture flying insect prey.

Where do bats sleep in Pennsylvania?

Big brown bats roost during the day in hollow trees, under loose tree bark, in rock crevices and in manmade structures from attics to barns. They hibernate individually or in small groups in caves and mines. The bat eats large numbers of beetles, as well as other flying insects. Common in Pennsylvania.

What happened to the bats in PA?

Pennsylvania’s hibernating bat populations have undergone drastic declines due to an introduced fungus, Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd), which causes the disease called WNS. Introduced to the U.S. a decade ago, Pd has no natural controls.

Why is the Big Brown bat important?

clearings. Small beetles are their most frequent prey, yet Big Brown Bats will consume prodigious quantities of a wide variety of night-flying insects. Like all insect-eating bats, Big Brown Bats contribute mightily to a healthy environment and are vital players in pest control.

How big is a little brown bat in PA?

The little brown bat is one the most common bats in Pennsylvania and across North America. It measures about 3.5 inches in length, with a wingspan of 9-11 inches, and weighs less than a half-ounce.

What kind of bats live in Pennsylvania caves?

The fur is pinkish brown, the wing membranes are dull brown, the face is pink. Indiana bats are known to hibernate among the more numerous little brown bats, sometimes in large groups, in 18 mines and natural caves in 11 Pennsylvania counties.

What kind of insects does a big brown bat Eat?

Big brown bats are insectivorous, consuming a diverse array of insects, particularly night-flying insects, but especially beetles. Some of the beetles it consumes are serious agricultural pests, including cucumber beetles.

Where are big brown bats found in North America?

The big brown bat is encountered widely throughout North America. It has been called “the most widespread Pleistocene bat in North America”. It is found from southern Canada and Alaska to as far south as Colombia and Venezuela.