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516b7702-ffa4-4351-98b3-d2b05b6aad75 Photo credit: Ian Maton USFWS Next WNS & Listing Status Myotis ciliolabrum Order: Chiroptera Suborder: Yangochiroptera Family: Vespertilionidae Call characteristics: High frequency caller (~40 kHz range) Weight 1/5 - 1/4 oz (4.7 - 7 g) Length 3 1/5 - 3 2/3 in (8.1 – 9.3 cm) There are various sources for bat species range maps including IUCN , NatureServe , U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ECOS , and the National Atlas of the United States . US SWAP National List IUCN Red List Canada Species at Risk Mexico Western Small-footed myotis The western small-footed myotis has light brown to yellowish fur that contrasts starkly with its black face, ears, and wing membranes. This species is found in a variety of habitats including deserts, shrublands, grasslands, and wooded areas. The western small-footed myotis typically hibernates in crevices of caves and mines, but little is known about its winter ecology. Maternity colonies have been documented in rock crevices, barns, and abandoned houses. Females typically give birth to a single pup each season. Diet consists of moths, flies, caddisflies, and a wide range of insects of the order Hemiptera. Information used to populate this page was obtained from the following sources: NatureServe Explorer United States Fish and Wildlife Service Environmental Conservation Online System Bat Conservation International Bat Profiles National Atlas of the United States. (2011). North American Bat Ranges, 1830-2008. National Atlas of the United States. Available at: http://purl.stanford.edu/pz329xp4277. Taylor, M. 2019. Bats: an illustrated guide to all species. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Books. Conservation Status Previous Next

f0079a48-7891-403e-b3e0-3741b0dcba69 Photo credit: Bureau of Reclamation USFWS Next WNS & Listing Status Lasiurus frantzii Order: Chiroptera Suborder : Yangochiroptera Family : Vespertilionidae Call characteristics: High frequency caller (36-54 kHz) Weight 1/3 - 1/2 oz (10 - 15 g) Body Length 3 9/10 - 4 1/3 in (10 – 11 cm) There are various sources for bat species range maps including IUCN , NatureServe , U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ECOS , and the National Atlas of the United States . US SWAP National List IUCN Red List Canada Species at Risk Mexico Desert Red Bat The desert red bat has red fur, bicolored, with white tips; males often appearing more vibrantly pigmented than females. The species is slightly smaller than the closely related eastern red bat. Desert red bats are often found in riparian habitats, particularly those associated with cottonwood trees. During the active season it roosts in the foliage of trees and shrubs; however, little is known about the species' winter activity or roosting sites. Favorite foods include beetles, flies, and moths. Mothers typically birth twins but can deliver up to 5 pups in a litter! In the wild desert red bats may survive to over 12 years in age. Information used to populate this page was obtained from the following sources: NatureServe Explorer United States Fish and Wildlife Service Environmental Conservation Online System Bat Conservation International Bat Profiles National Atlas of the United States. (2011). North American Bat Ranges, 1830-2008. National Atlas of the United States. Available at: http://purl.stanford.edu/pz329xp4277. Taylor, M. 2019. Bats: an illustrated guide to all species. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Books. Conservation Status Previous Next

WHAT IS SO SPECIAL ABOUT BATS? Bats are the second most diverse order of mammals with about 1,400 species worldwide. Currently, there are 150 species of bats recognized in North America, including 138 that are found in Mexico, 47 in the United States, and 17 in Canada. NABat will focus on the 47 species that are found in the United States and shared with Canada or Mexico. In Canada, three species are listed by the federal government as endangered, one species is considered threatened, and another species is considered a species of special concern. In the United States, eight species or subspecies are listed as endangered by the federal government and one species is listed as threatened. In Mexico, three species are considered threatened and two species are provided special protection. Bats are important to the maintenance of healthy ecosystems and are considered to be good bioindicators for monitoring ecosystem health because of their longevity and their sensitivity to changes in their environment that may also affect many other organisms. Additionally, bats provide many benefits and services to humans. Because bats are active mainly during the night (nocturnal) many of their important benefits and services occur “under the radar.” Insect Consumption One of the most important services that bats provide is insect consumption. Approximately 70 percent of all bat species either depend exclusively or primarily on insects for food, and these bats consume large numbers of insects throughout the growing season. For example, colonies of Mexican free-tailed bats in Texas often contain over 1 million bats; the economic importance of their foraging has been estimated to save cotton farmers approximately $12.2 million a year in insect pest suppression. Other studies estimate that bats across the United States and other parts of the word save farmers billions of dollars each year by patrolling the dark skies and literally gobbling up tons of flying crop pests each night. Pollination Some species of bats are also important pollinators of native and commercial plants. Over 500 different types of tropical plants are pollinated by bats every year. For example, nectar feeding bats pollinate Agave tequilana , which is the principal component used in the distillation of tequila, an economically important product of Mexico. These bats forage by plunging their faces down into a flower and using their very long tongues to lap up nectar stored there. While they are doing this, pollen becomes attached to their fur. Then when they visit other flowers, some of this pollen comes off, thereby fertilizing the flowers. Seed Dispersal Fruit-eating bats in the tropics and subtropics are important seed dispersers and aid in regenerating forests and fruit crops. When bats fly across nighttime landscapes, their combined abilities of digesting quickly and defecating ‘on-the-fly’ play an important role in regenerating clear-cut forests, especially rainforests. Bats also redistribute nutrients across the landscape. Bat guano is exceptionally high in nitrogen, phosphate, and potassium. Guano accumulations around the bases of bat roosts in dead trees fertilize the soil and may also aid in forest regeneration. Medical Research and Technology Bats provide many other benefits to humans, some of which are just becoming known. They have served as important models in medical research, and compounds from their bodies are being used in new medical treatments. Because bats live much longer than would be expected based on their body size, they provide a good model for studies of the aging process, and studies of their metabolism have provided insight into some causes of aging. The transparent and extremely thin structure of bat wings have led to improved understanding of the dynamics of blood circulation in mammals. In other studies, a compound found in the saliva of the common vampire bat is being tested as a treatment for stroke victims, as it shows promise in providing faster restoration of blood flow with reduced risk of bleeding and can be administered later than other stroke treatments. Biotechnology Research & Dev'mt Bats have the most sophisticated flight mechanisms in all the animal kingdom. The structure and function of bat wings have been studied to understand the aerodynamics of complex flight. These studies are beginning to inspire engineered designs of futuristic aircraft, such as drones. In addition to fertilization, the components of bat guano may lead to future uses. The chitin from undigested insect shells found in bat guano may be used in pharmaceuticals, bioengineering, agriculture pest control, and textiles. The bacteria of bat guano, rich in ammonia, may someday be used in environmental engineering to remove nitrogen from industrial waste before it reaches our lakes and rivers. Ecotourism Nightly bat emergences during summertime from daytime roosts in caves, tunnels, mines, or bridges provide impressive viewing opportunities as tens of thousands to millions of bats leave their roosts to forage for insects. Their collective flight can draw thousands of spectators, create interpretive opportunities, and provide economic benefits to nearby communities. For example, the emergence of Mexican free-tailed bats at Carlsbad Caverns or the Congress Avenue Bridge in Austin, TX, bring thousands of visitors to these areas. Total annual visitation to view Mexican free-tailed bats at these and 15 other sites in the southwestern United States was over 242,000 visitors, and their visits were conservatively estimated to bring in $6.5 million per year to the local communities.

Back to Search ERROR WARNING: No location found matching location name. HOW TO RESOLVE: This error occurs when 'GRTS Cell Id' and 'Latitude'/'Longitude' are both missing from a record. Ensure the ''GRTS Cell Id' field or "Latitude'/'Longitude' fields are completed for each submitted record. ADDED EXPLANATION: Surveys must include key fields that answer the "where, what, when, and who" questions: either a GRTS Cell ID or latitude/longitude to locate the survey, a Site Name to describe the place, survey start and end times, and the names of surveyors. Each survey type may also require a few additional fields. If required columns are missing entirely, the upload wizard will block the file. If required columns are present but individual rows lack values, those rows will be flagged while the rest of the file can load. Use the template's informational header rows to identify which fields are required and ensure each data entry row contains values for these fields before uploading.

Back to Search ERROR WARNING: Capture Time not within Start and End Times HOW TO RESOLVE: This survey window conflict occurs when a "Time of Observation" falls outside the reported "Survey Start Time" and "Survey End Time". To resolve, directly adjust start/end times of the survey event, or, manually adjust the "Time of Observation" of the errored record(s). If many records are affected, check for consistent time offsets or other systemic shifts, then resolve by batch-shifting times for uniform offsets, or extending survey window start/end times to include errored records. For non-acoustic surveys, errors usually stem from typos or rough estimates. Fix these manually or with simple {Find/Replace} tools.

Status & Trends Measures of where North American bats occur, in what numbers, and how these metrics change over time. Photo credit: Jordi Segers NABat uses multiple lines of evidence to understand where, when and how bat populations change over time. Bats are challenging to monitor and not all survey types work well for all species. Additionally, different response types are more or less sensitive to observing changes in populations. Looking at multiple status variables informed by several data streams provides a more complete view into population status and trends. Summer Abundance the number of bats occupying summer roosts and surrounding habitats each year and how this changes over time. NABat Summer Abundance Analysis 2012 - 2020 Estimating the abundance of unmarked animal populations from acoustic data is challenging due to the inability to identify individuals... Jul 26, 2024 Summer Occupancy where bats occur across the summer landscape and how this changes over time. NABat Summer Occupancy Analysis 2010-2019 We have made available our first set of results for one of three status variables for North American bats. Through this work we developed... Mar 11, 2022 Winter Abundance the number of bats occupying winter sites each year and how this changes over time. Winter abundance estimates coming soon! Winter abundance analyses are underway. Stay tuned! Mar 11, 2022

Back to Search ERROR WARNING: null value in column "" violates not-null constraint HOW TO RESOLVE: Enter missing required data based on the template's header rows—the third row indicates 'required' status by field, and the second row lists data type restrictions. Ensure each record includes values for all required fields before re-uploading. ADDED EXPLANATION: Surveys must include key fields that answer the "where, what, when, and who" questions: either a GRTS Cell ID or latitude/longitude to locate the survey, a Site Name to describe the place, survey start and end times, and the names of surveyors. Each survey type may also require a few additional fields. If required columns are missing entirely, the upload wizard will block the file. If required columns are present but individual rows lack values, those rows will be flagged while the rest of the file can load. Use the template's informational header rows to identify which fields are required and ensure each data entry row contains values for these fields before uploading.

Back to Search ERROR WARNING: Invalid option for Classifier --> [custom text] HOW TO RESOLVE: Species list errors will appear as missing-field or invalid-categorical errors. When uploading acoustic data, you must specify which custom species list was used for Auto ID and Manual ID -- the corresponding fields are 'Name of Species List for Auto Id' and 'Name of Species List for Manual Id'. These fields behave like controlled categorical fields but are managed in the Partner Portal rather than in your CSV. Create or edit your project's species lists in the Partner Portal, then enter the exact list names in your upload file. ADDED EXPLANATION: Knowing which species were considered during Auto ID and Manual ID analyses is essential for estimating detection probabilities and modeling populations. Errors involving the 'Name of Species List for Auto ID' and 'Name of Species List for Manual ID' fields arise when the names provided in the CSV do not match any list defined in the Partner Portal. To resolve these errors, navigate to your project's Species Lists tab, enter edit mode, and add a new list. Give the list a clear name, provide a brief description, and use the Definition column to include or exclude species. After saving, enter the exact list name in the 'Name of Species List for Auto Id' and/or 'Name of Species List for Manual Id' fields in your CSV. Projects may use different lists for Auto ID and Manual ID—for example, a comprehensive regional list for automated classification and a smaller subset for manual verification. Ensure every list referenced in your data has been created in the Partner Portal and is named exactly as it appears in your upload file.

Create an Account Plan Your Project Collect Data Prepare/Process Data Upload Data Data QA/QC Get Data Species Codes Quick Links Credit: Flickr/Mroach Saving transect routes as spatial objects NABat partners can provide spatial information for mobile transect routes by (1) uploading routes as a .kml or .geojson file, or (2) drawing mobile transect routes using NABat's web-based mapping tools. i have a kml/geojson i do not have a kml/geojson Back: Resources Home Back: Plan your Project Have KML Uploading mobile transect routes as a .kml or .geojson file Users who use a GPS unit to record a mobile transect survey route can upload those routes as a KML or GeoJSON file. Most GPS units produce data in the GPX file type, but many free online conversion tools are available . 1. Log into the NABat Partner Portal . First-time users will need to create an account . 2. Once logged in, navigate to the My Projects tab (top menu bar) and select a project to work in. Scroll down to the project map. 3. Click the KML|GeoJSON button (top right of map) to browse for the desired route file. 4. After uploading a dialogue box will appear. Click Edit and name the transect route. 5. The newly uploaded route is not automatically connected to a survey event; the user must link transect routes and survey events together in one of two following ways. If uploading mobile survey metadata via the Bulk Upload Tool, simply enter the route’s name into the “Location Name” column of the bulk upload CSV file before uploading. If working in the reverse order (i.e., survey metadata uploaded prior to transect route upload) the user should simply click Reprocess to update metadata CSV file in the Bulk Uploads tab. Note that entries in the “Location Name” column of the CSV must still match the transect route name. Alternatively, mobile survey metadata may be entered manually. Navigate through the list of GRTS cell survey data located beneath the project map. Click the target GRTS cell to expand its current survey data. Click the Single Entry button located in the "Mobile Acoustic Survey" dropdown menu, then follow the prompts to create a new survey. Currently uploaded transect routes within the GRTS cell should appear as options when selecting the survey’s location. No KML Drawing mobile transect routes using NABat's web-based mapping tools Users can draw mobile transect routes directly in the Partner Portal . 1. Log into the NABat Partner Portal . First-time users will need to create an account . 2. Once logged in, navigate to the My Projects tab (top menu bar) and select a project to work in. Scroll down to the project map. 3. Click the Mark a transect route button on the left edge of the project map, note the drawing options that expand to the right of the button. Click along the desired mobile transect route and finalize it with the Finish button. 4. A dialogue box will appear. Click Edit assign the survey type and name the transect route. 5. The newly created route is not automatically connected to a survey event; the user must link transect routes and survey events together in one of two following ways. If uploading mobile survey metadata via the Bulk Upload Tool, simply enter the route’s name into the “Location Name” column of the bulk upload CSV file before uploading. If working in the reverse order (i.e., survey metadata uploaded prior to transect route upload) the user should simply click Reprocess to update the metadata CSV file in the Bulk Uploads tab. Note that entries in the “Location Name” column of the CSV must still match the transect route name. Alternatively, mobile survey metadata may be entered manually. Navigate through the list of GRTS cell survey data located beneath the project map. Click the target GRTS cell to expand its current survey data. Click the Single Entry button located in the "Mobile Acoustic Survey" dropdown menu, then follow the prompts to create a new survey. Currently uploaded transect routes within the GRTS cell should appear as options when selecting the survey’s location. 6. Users can export transect routes for use in a GPS unit by clicking the Download KML | GeoJSON button in the top right of the project map.

Create Account Plan Project Collect Data Prep/Process Data Upload Data Data QA/QC Get Data Species Codes Resource Library COLLECT DATA Jump to... Capture Records Emergence Counts Internal Roost Counts Mobile Acoustic Surveys Stationary Acoustic Surveys Reference Calls Photo: Frank Tousley Stationary Acoustic Surveys The goal of stationary acoustic surveys is to capture the full scope of bat species diversity within a GRTS cell. This is accomplished through presence-absence sampling, meaning a single positive identification of each species is all that is required at each sampling location. Therefore, the priority of stationary acoustic sampling should be to acquire high-quality recordings that can be confidently identified, rather than focusing on recording a high volume of recordings. 1. Select GRTS cells to survey . Acquire landowner permission, if applicable. Find a sample property access request letter here . 2. Select sites to monitor. Each 10 x 10 km GRTS cell is comprised of four 5 x 5 km quadrants; users should place no more than 1 acoustic detector per quadrant and survey at least two quadrants per grid cell. Homogenous landscapes may only require two quadrants to capture the species diversity within a cell. If landscapes are heterogenous or unfamiliar to the user, place detectors in up to four quadrants to ensure the major habitat types are represented in sampling. Site selection is a multi-year commitment that should be diligently assessed by knowledgeable biologists using on-the-ground reconnaissance. Note: Aim for call diversity, not quantity. It may be necessary to place one or two detectors in habitats that may be used only by one or two species if those habitats are the most likely area to host those species 3. Prepare survey equipment. Most bat detectors are compatible with stationary acoustic monitoring; however, time-expansion detectors should not be used. To standardize recordings, recommended settings involve a two-second trigger window and a maximum file length of 15 seconds. 4. Conduct surveys. Monitoring should occur during the summer active period prior to the young becoming volant. This target period may vary with location or species. When possible, surveys should be conducted when weather conditions are optimal for bat activity. Each survey point should be sampled at least once per year, for a minimum of four consecutive nights. Surveys should last the entire night, from 15 minutes before sunset until 15 minutes after sunrise. 5. Review full NABat Stationary Acoustic Survey protocols in A plan for the North American Bat Monitoring Program (Chapter 4). Resources for Stationary Acoustic Surveys Acoustic Detector Settings Guide Using Audiomoth for Acoustic Surveys Audiomoth Configuration File Mobile Acoustic Surveys The goal of mobile acoustic surveys is to estimate the relative abundance of bat species within a GRTS cell. 1. Select GRTS cells to survey . Acquire landowner permission, if applicable. Find a sample property access request letter here . 2. Delineate a survey route. Routes should cover 25-48 km (~15-30 mi) on roads where a constant speed of 32 kph (20 mph) is possible with little to no stopping. Plan a route that covers the cell’s predominant habitat types, but avoid roads with heavy traffic (for safety) and dense forested corridors (for call quality). To ensure each bat recording is a unique encounter, avoid routes that loop back near previously surveyed areas. If unavoidable, aim for all route sections to be separated by > 100 m lateral distance. Note: Mobile transect routes should be targeted toward a single GRTS cell, but may have sections or an endpoint that extend beyond the GRTS cell boundary into an adjacent cell(s). 3. Prepare survey equipment. Acceptable bat detectors include full-spectrum (preferred), zero-cross, and frequency division. Zero-cross detectors that auto-level the noise floor should not be used, nor should time-expansion detectors. Directional microphones are preferred and should be affixed centrally on the vehicle rooftop, preferably aiming their cone of detection upwards. All recordings should be georeferenced. Most detector types are capable of writing GPS metadata, either through internal GPS mechanisms or through the attachment of accessory GPS units. Note: Because mobile transects should only be conducted during fair weather, microphone weatherproofing is not necessary and should not be used (for call quality). 4. Conduct surveys. Users should perform mobile surveys twice per year during the maternity season — ideally, the second survey will be conducted within a week of the first. The window of appropriate survey dates may vary based on the phenology of regional bat communities. To maintain consistency in subsequent years, future surveys should be conducted within one-two weeks of the original survey date. Begin mobile surveys 45 minutes after sunset. If the survey vehicle must stop for any reason, the detector should be paused until the survey resumes. Note: Ensure detectors are functional for the duration of the survey by generating an ultrasonic test noise (e.g., rubbing fingers together, jangling keys) at the microphone immediately after beginning and prior to ending the survey. 5. Review full NABat Mobile Acoustic Survey protocols in A plan for the North American Bat Monitoring Program (Chapter 5). Mobile Acoustic Transect Standard Operating Procedure Locating and Establishing Routes Field Season and Survey Preparation Conducting Mobile Transect Surveys Download + Link Mobile Transect Route to Survey Event Download Transect Route Link Transect Route to Survey Roost Count Surveys at a Glance The goal of roost count surveys is to estimate population abundance in gregarious species or to record species whose call characteristic are not well-suited for acoustic monitoring. Bat roost sites can be sensitive locations. NABat offers multiple levels of data security to accommodate project's with site security concerns. Disclaimer: NABat recognizes that many ongoing roost/colony monitoring programs consist of years, or decades of effort. NABat guidelines encourage survey effort consistency to create comparable datasets; however, it is not recommended that existing colony monitoring programs significantly alter their current protocols unless data reliability is expected to dramatically improved. Consistent, long-term monitoring data is more important that full integration of efforts into the NABat framework. Internal Roost Counts 1. Assess the need for an internal roost count. Entering a roost may negatively impact bats and should be avoided when possible. An internal roost count may be appropriate if emergence counts cannot be conducted or cannot reliably identify a roost’s species, or if data needs require winter-specific population estimates to assess threats associated with hibernacula (e.g., WNS). To ensure reproductive success is not compromised in maternity colonies, internal surveys of summer roosts are not recommended unless absolutely necessary. 2. Establish a survey sample design. If a regular sampling interval can be maintained (≤ 3 years between surveys), it may be most appropriate to monitor all colonies in a region. Alternatively, GRTS cell selection protocol can be used to prioritize monitoring when the number of colonies exceeds monitoring resources in a region. 3. Conduct surveys. Whenever possible, winter surveys should be conducted between late January and early March. To minimize disturbance, conduct surveys no more than once per season — some species-specific guidance may recommend surveying once every other season. If internal roost counts must be conducted in the summer, surveys should occur during the final two weeks of pregnancy. Entering roosts with non-volant pups incurs a high risk of pup mortality. Multiple-observer surveys are recommended to minimize bias in abundance estimates. However, it is critical that data collected in this manner be independent (i.e., no communication between observers). Surveyors must also consider that duplicated effort has the potential to increase disturbance within a roost and should make every effort to minimize disturbance. Digital photography is the preferred method for internal roost counts as it minimizes time spent in a roost and creates a permanent record of the survey. Performing a visual survey in tandem with digital photography generally results in a reliable roost count. Cameras must be capable of producing clear images where individual bats are easily distinguished. Cluster abundance may be estimated by extrapolating bat density estimates over the cluster area; in such cases, packing density should be estimated for each cluster and for multiple subsets of large clusters. Note: It is crucial that large roosts be subdivided into named sections and bat counts be attributed to their respective section. Spatial inconsistency between surveys often renders incomparable data; however, comparisons may still be drawn at the roost section level when such data exists. Emergence Counts 1. Establish a survey sample design. If it is practical to monitor all known colonies in a region each season, it may be most appropriate to continue monitoring all colonies. Alternatively, GRTS cell selection protocol can be used to prioritize monitoring when colony prevalence exceeds monitoring resources in a region. 2. Assess whether an emergence count will result in accurate estimates at a roost. Emergence counts are appropriate when all roost exits are known and can be monitored simultaneously. Conditions must allow individual emerging bats to be identified; additionally, species compositions and relative abundances of the roost must be known beforehand. 3. Conduct surveys. Emergence counts are most productive during late pregnancy or early lactation, prior to young becoming volant. Performing two-three emergence counts during this period typically produces reliable data. In most scenarios, it is appropriate to begin monitoring a roost 30 minutes before sunset and continue at least 10 minutes after the last bat emerges or until it is too dark to see. However, larger colonies may emerge in pulses with periods > 10 minutes between emerging bats. Capture NABat encourage submission of capture data. User capture data may facilitate the interpretation of acoustic and roost count surveys by aiding verification of a given species for a given area. NABat does not specify guidance protocols regarding the capture or handling of bats. Please refer to your state/province/territory guidelines, and/or your local USFWS local field office. Reference Calls Bat reference calls are acoustic recordings of bat echolocations, social calls, etc. where the identity of the recorded species is established through reliable identification methods, e.g., genetics, capture, etc. Despite the NABat database representing over 130 million bat acoustic records (and counting), there is still a pressing need for verified, curated reference recordings. These bat reference calls are needed to help improve the utility and reliability of acoustic monitoring as a tool for studying bats and essential for advancing our understanding of how species and populations are fairing across North America. Reference Call Guidance Reference Calls

aa2ec950-59c1-47a3-9030-fb81dd576b58 Photo credit: Richard Hoyer USFWS Next WNS & Listing Status Nyctinomops macrotis Order: Chiroptera Suborder: Yangochiroptera Family: Mollosidae Call characteristics: Low frequency caller (17-30 kHz range) Weight 3/4 - 1 oz (22 - 30 g) Body Length 4 3/4 - 6 1/3 in (12 – 16 cm) There are various sources for bat species range maps including IUCN , NatureServe , U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ECOS , and the National Atlas of the United States . US SWAP National List IUCN Red List Canada Species at Risk Mexico Big Free-tailed Bat The big free-tailed bat has brown to black fur, ears that meet in the middle of its forehead, and a long tail that extends beyond the tail membrane. Its habitat is in rocky canyons where this bat roosts in rock crevices and has been occasionally documented roosting in buildings and tree cavities. It is a strong flyer and migrates between winter and summer homes. Breeding colonies of the big free-tailed bat have been found as far north as Colorado. This species mostly feeds on moths but will sometimes eat other insects including grasshoppers, ants, and beetles. Mothers give birth to one pup a year. Information used to populate this page was obtained from the following sources: NatureServe Explorer United States Fish and Wildlife Service Environmental Conservation Online System Bat Conservation International Bat Profiles National Atlas of the United States. (2011). North American Bat Ranges, 1830-2008. National Atlas of the United States. Available at: http://purl.stanford.edu/pz329xp4277. Taylor, M. 2019. Bats: an illustrated guide to all species. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Books. Conservation Status Previous Next