Bats
Bats should be appreciated from a distance and not disturbed as they are known carriers of rabies.
Biology: Bats are the only mammals that truly fly. Bats that congregate in groups are called colonial bats. Those that live a lone existence are known as solitary bats. Summer colonies are very gregarious and commonly roost in dark, hot attics & roof spaces where maternity colonies (containing pregnant females) may include hundreds to thousands of individuals. No nests are built. Some bats are known to migrate relatively short distances.
Mating Habits: Bats mate in the fall and winter, but the female retains the sperm until spring, when ovulation and fertilization takes place.
Birthing Times: May through July. Their young grow rapidly and can fly within 3 weeks. Weaning occurs in July and August.
Litter Size: Litter size is 1 in the South; twins occasionally occur in some other areas.
Life Span: Bats can live more than 10 years and may live as long as 31 years.
Foods: Their diet consists of mosquitoes, caddis flies, moths, and beetles. Bats can consume insects equal to one-third of its body weight in ½ hour of foraging.
Hibernation: In winter, little brown bats in the eastern part of their range abandon buildings to hibernate in caves and mines.
Legal Status: Not protected by federal law, but state & local regulations may apply.
Catch & Release Status: It is ILLEGAL to release this or any animal on the land(s) of another without written permission from the landowner