# 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. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Snaps:** 8 - **Habitat:** Urban areas - **Also known as:** Brown Bat, Common Big Brown Bat, Eptesicus fuscus ![Big Brown Bat](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771424842/objects/2033.jpg) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Chiroptera - **Family:** Vespertilionidae - **Genus:** Eptesicus ## 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 - **Echo Vision:** Big Brown Bats can 'see' in total darkness by using echolocation, emitting sounds and creating a sonic map. - **Pest Patrol:** Big Brown Bats can gobble hundreds of night-flying insects, like beetles, protecting crops and gardens. - **Hibernation Superpower:** Big Brown Bats can enter a deep sleep for months, slowing their heart rate to survive freezing winters. - **Urban Roost Adaptor:** 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 - **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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/japanese-beetle) (*Popillia japonica*) — Controls this common garden pest. - **Eaten by:** [American Kestrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-kestrel) (*Falco sparverius*) — Sometimes preyed upon by small raptors. - **Shelter:** [Northern Red Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/northern-red-oak) (*Quercus rubra*) — Roosts in tree hollows and under bark. - **Hunts:** Common Malaria Mosquito (*Anopheles quadrimaculatus*) — Helps control mosquito populations. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Echolocation](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/echolocation): Echolocation is a biological sonar used by animals to navigate, hunt, and communicate by emitting sound waves and interpreting the echoes. - [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Bats are usually not dangerous, but it's best to watch them from a distance and not touch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Big Brown Bat? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Big Brown Bat? 10-13 cm ### What is Big Brown Bat's wingspan? 28-33 cm ### How much does Big Brown Bat weigh? 0.015-0.026 kg ### How long does Big Brown Bat live? 6-18 years ### How fast can Big Brown Bat move? 32 km/h ### What does Big Brown Bat eat? These amazing bats love to munch on nocturnal insects, especially beetles and moths! ### Where is Big Brown Bat usually found? Urban areas ## Where to spot - [Peninsula Village Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/peninsula-village-historic-district) — Ohio, US · Historic District - [Fort Wayne Children's Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/fort-wayne-childrens-zoo) — Indiana, US · Zoo - [Bat Cave and Cascade Caverns State Nature Preserves](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bat-cave-and-cascade-caverns-state-nature-preserves) — Kentucky, US · Nature Reserve - [Huntington Center Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/huntington-center-historic-district) — Connecticut, US · Historic District - [Itha T. Krumme Memorial Arboretum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/itha-t-krumme-memorial-arboretum) — Nebraska, US · Botanical Garden - [Metro Richmond Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/metro-richmond-zoo) — Virginia, US · Zoo [View all places to see Big Brown Bat](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/big-brown-bat) ## Watch - [Play video: Big Brown Bat](https://www.snappit.app/videos/big-brown-bat) - [YouTube](https://youtube.com/watch?v=bldhVA_fM2Y) ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Big Brown Bat: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/big-brown-bat)