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Natural History and Identification of
Bats in Central Coastal California (A-E).
Mark R. Stromberg, Hastings Reservation
The best way to introduce the bats is probably by showing you a picture
or two for each and then giving you a bit of information on the natural
history of the bats. I will present them in alphabetical order, using
their scientific names. The photos are mostly from a great book ("Bats
of America" by Roger Barbour and W. H. Davis. 1969 Univ. of Kentucky
Press). This book has a good key to the bats of North America. A Key
to the California Bats will allow you figure out which bat you have
in hand. Photos should not be used elsewhere without permission. Contact
Bat Conservation International for
photographs of bats. Amy Fesnock of Pinnacles National Monument straddling
San Benito and Monterey Counties, made the bat voice recordings. Bat vocalizations
are recorded with special microphones that can hear sounds that are 10x
higher in frequency than humans can hear. To let us hear the sounds, they
were translated by dividing the frequency by 10; thus a 20,000 Hz sound
is beyond most of our hearing and is presented here as 2,000 Hz. Jeff
Froke, Santa Lucia Preserve, on the southwestern flanks of Carmel Valley
provided information on bat distribution there. Other information is derrived
from the files at Hastings.
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Silver-Haired
Bat
Lasionycteris
noctivagans
photo by
Roger Barbour
Click for feeding vocalizations made by this bat.
Click for travelling vocalizations made by this bat. |
A medium-sized bat (total length
90-115 mm), the black membrane between hind feet that is only lightly
furred and not at all hidden by the fur. Fur on body is usually
black, with silver tips. Occur throughout North America from Alaska/British
Columbia to central CA and northern Mexico and on east to ME and
south to GA. Scarce through much of its range, and never very abundant.
Probably migratory, moving north through AZ and NM in the spring.Will
use buildings when migrating in prairie states. Breeds in fall,
ovulation peaks in Apr and May, with 50-60 day gestation. Usually
two babies born, lactation is about 40 days, and young fly in 3-4
weeks. Some live to 12 years of age. One of the slowest flying bats
in the U.S., it flies close to the ground, often near woodland ponds
and streams. Rarely even captured in mouse traps! Occasionally roost
in groups of 3-4, deep (20 in.) in rock crevices, or in loose bark.
In captivity, will eat bits of fruit, raw meat and insects. Known
from Pinnacles and Hastings. |
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Red
Bat
Lasiurus
blossvillii
photo by
Roger Barbour
Click for feeding vocalizations made by this bat.
Click for travelling vocalizations made by this bat. |
A medium-sized bat (total length 90-120
mm), with membrane between hind legs so heavily furred the skin
cannot be seen. Pelt on tail membrane is used as a blanket. In the
western U.S., present in CA, AZ, absent in southern and central
Rockies, and then present east of the rockies to the east coast
and south to Central America. Breeds in the fall, sometimes in the
air! Ovulation and birth is in spring, often 2-4 in litter. Pair
or mother and young roost solitarily in trees. Mother leaves young
in roost while foraging. Have been mistaken for a peach by person
picking fruit! Young cling to mother who can fly from one roost
to another while carrying one young. Rarely use buildings, occur
as solitary family groups. Strong fliers (65 kph) with swift, straight
flight. Probably highly migratory. Present in San Francisco area
from Sep to May but absent in summer, yet in Yolo County, absent
in winter and present in Feb and Mar. Males may spend summer and
falls apart from females. Able to" hibernate" (become
torpid) by dropping heart rate to 10-16/min and internal body temp
to -5°C. Rouse from slumber with air temp exceeds 19°C.
Peak activity 1-2 hr after sunset. Often feed under street lights.
Food includes beetles, bugs, ants and moths. Known from Pinnacles
and Hastings. (Previously named Lasiurus borealis).
|
 |
Hoary
Bat
Lasiurus
cinereus
Photo by Roger
Barbour
Click for feeding vocalizations made by this bat. |
A large bat (total length 130-145
mm), ears with distinctive rounded, glossy black, naked edges.Luxuriant,
thick fur. A very strong flier, found over all of North America. This
is the only bat to have reached Hawaii. Quentin Tomich, after many
years collecting museum specimens of plants and animals from Hastings,
moved to Hawaii where he collected many of the specimens there used
to describe that taxonomic group of Hoary bats. Assumes an aggressive,
hissing pose when disturbed. Like the Red bat, solitary and roosts
in trees, often in clusters of leaves, using furry tail as blanket
during cold termperatures. Rarely uses buildings.Migrates to warm
climates for winter, northern part of range in summer. Males and females
have different summer ranges. Breeding occurs in fall, all litters
two, with birth from May to July. Mother is helpless if she falls
to the ground while both young are clinging. Young are nursed for
3-4 weeks, and are left in roost while female is foraging. Fly late
in evening, 2-5 hr after sunset; emit loud chattering calls. May not
be able to detect mist nets in which they are easily captured, if
they don't just bounce off and fly away. Moths are common in diet,
but may take larger prey. Known from Pinnacles, Hastings and Santa
Lucia Preserve. |
Return
to Index of Bats of Central California
|
