Big Brown Bat

Eptesicus fuscus

The Big Brown Bat is a friendly flying mammal that loves to eat insects! They are great at catching bugs in the air and can be found in many places, especially at night.

Habitat: Urban areas

Appearance

The Big Brown Bat is a medium-sized bat with uniformly rich brown to reddish-brown fur, a bare blackish face, and dark leathery wings. Its small, rounded ears are distinct against its dark head, helping it blend into shadowy environments.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassMammaliaOrderChiropteraFamilyVespertilionidaeGenusEptesicus

Big Brown Bat

Interesting facts

A big brown bat's wing bones are like tiny, super-flexible human fingers!

Baby bats, called pups, can fly and hunt on their own just weeks after birth!

These bats can eat half their body weight in insects every single night!

They are super cold hardy, able to survive temperatures below freezing while hibernating.

Special abilities

Big Brown Bats can 'see' in total darkness by using echolocation, emitting sounds and creating a sonic map.

Big Brown Bats can gobble hundreds of night-flying insects, like beetles, protecting crops and gardens.

Big Brown Bats can enter a deep sleep for months, slowing their heart rate to survive freezing winters.

Big Brown Bats can comfortably roost in attics and barns, making them flexible home-finders in human areas.

Measurements & details

Length: 10-13 cm
Wingspan: 28-33 cm
Weight: 0.015-0.026 kg
Lifespan: 6-18 years
Top Speed: 32 km/h
Litter Size: 1-2
Gestation: 50-60 days

Diet & Feeding

These amazing bats love to munch on nocturnal insects, especially beetles and moths!

Primary Foods

Beetles
Moths
Wasps
Flies
Mosquitoes

Foraging Method

Pursuit

Ecological connections

hunts

Japanese Beetle

Popillia japonica

Controls this common garden pest.

eaten by

American Kestrel

Falco sparverius

Sometimes preyed upon by small raptors.

shelters

Northern Red Oak

Quercus rubra

Roosts in tree hollows and under bark.

hunts

Common Malaria Mosquito

Anopheles quadrimaculatus

Helps control mosquito populations.

Traits

Furry

Find adorable animals covered in a cozy coat of soft fur! Their fur helps them stay warm and protected in different environments.

Social

Discover creatures that love to live and work together! These animals form groups, helping each other find food, stay safe, and raise their young.

Insectivorous

Discover clever creatures that specialize in munching on insects, playing a super important role in keeping bug populations in check. They are nature's tiny bug vacuums!

Echolocation

Listen closely to animals that use special sounds to "see" in the dark! They send out sound waves and listen to the echoes to find their way and catch prey.

Longevous

Marvel at organisms that have an incredible capacity to live for a very, very long time, sometimes spanning centuries or even millennia. They are the elders of the natural world!