# Evening Bats (*Vespertilionidae*) Evening bats are small, flying mammals that come out at night. They help keep the insect population down by eating bugs while they fly around in the dark. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Forests - **Also known as:** Evening Bat ![Evening Bats](https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/7580299/medium.jpg) Photo: L. K. Holt, CC BY 4.0 · [iNaturalist](https://www.inaturalist.org/photos/7580299) ## Appearance The Evening Bats typically have small bodies covered in soft, often dull brown or gray fur. They feature simple faces without elaborate nose leaves and possess broad, leathery wings that are usually dark-colored. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Chiroptera - **Family:** Vespertilionidae ## Interesting facts - Evening bats can hear sounds too high for humans to even detect! - Many evening bats migrate thousands of kilometers, like tiny flying adventurers! - Some tiny evening bats are no bigger than your thumb, yet they can fly! - They are super important pest controllers, helping farmers by eating crop-munching bugs. ## Special abilities - **Sonic Sight:** Evening Bats can "see" in the dark using echolocation, emitting sounds that bounce off objects, helping them hunt. - **Acrobatic Flight:** Evening Bats have highly flexible wings that allow for agile, swooping flight, helping them chase fast-moving insects mid-air. - **Hanging Grippers:** Evening Bats possess specialized claws on their feet that allow them to hang upside down effortlessly for rest and sleep. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 4-8 cm - **Wingspan:** 20-35 cm - **Weight:** 0.005-0.02 kg - **Lifespan:** 6-20 years - **Speed:** 30 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1-2 - **Gestation:** 50-60 days ## Diet & Feeding These small night flyers are expert bug-eaters, helping control insect populations. - **Primary Foods:** moths, beetles, mosquitoes, flies, crickets - **Foraging Method:** Pursuit ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** [Spongy Moth](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spongy-moth) (*Lymantria dispar*) — eats the adult moths - **Eaten by:** [Barn Owl](https://www.snappit.app/explore/barn-owl) (*Tyto alba*) — preys on bats during nocturnal flights - **Eaten by:** [Cooper's Hawk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cooper-s-hawk) (*Accipiter cooperii*) — catches bats during dawn or dusk ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Aerial](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aerial): Aerial creatures spend a significant portion of their lives airborne, utilizing flight for various activities such as hunting, migration, or nesting. - [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. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. - [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:** 1/5 · Very low Bats are usually not dangerous, but it's best to watch them from a distance. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Evening Bats? 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 Evening Bats? 4-8 cm ### What is Evening Bats's wingspan? 20-35 cm ### How much does Evening Bats weigh? 0.005-0.02 kg ### How long does Evening Bats live? 6-20 years ### How fast can Evening Bats move? 30 km/h ### What does Evening Bats eat? These small night flyers are expert bug-eaters, helping control insect populations. ### Where is Evening Bats usually found? Forests ## Where to spot - [Clarence H. Clark Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/clarence-h-clark-park) — Pennsylvania, US · Park - [Peace Arch Historical State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/peace-arch-historical-state-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park - [Inland Lake Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/inland-lake-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park - [Nahatlatch Provincial Park and Protected Area](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/nahatlatch-provincial-park-and-protected-area) — British Columbia, CA · State Park [View all places to see Evening Bats](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/evening-bats) ## 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: [Evening Bats: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/evening-bats)