# Little Brown Bat (*Myotis lucifugus*) The Little Brown Bat is a small, friendly creature that loves to fly at night. They help our environment by eating lots of insects! - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 3 - **Habitat:** Caves, forests, and buildings - **Also known as:** Little Brown Myotis, Myotis Bat ![Little Brown Bat](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426269/objects/4487.jpg) ## Appearance The Little Brown Bat has soft, glossy fur that ranges from reddish-brown to dark brown, with a slightly paler belly. Its delicate, dark wing membranes stretch between its slender fingers and body. It features small, mouse-like ears and a short snout, making it look quite tiny. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Chiroptera - **Family:** Vespertilionidae - **Genus:** Myotis ## Interesting facts - A deadly fungus called white-nose syndrome has caused their populations to sharply decline. - Baby bats can fly and hunt on their own just three to four weeks after being born! - Females gather in huge nursery colonies, sometimes numbering thousands, to raise their single pup. - They often hang upside down in caves or buildings, which helps them launch into flight quickly. ## Special abilities - **Sound Navigator:** Little Brown Bat can 'see' in the dark by sending out high-pitched squeaks that echo back, creating a detailed sound map of its surroundings. - **Winter Snoozer:** Little Brown Bat has the ability to hibernate deeply through winter, drastically slowing its body to survive without food. - **Aerial Acrobat:** Little Brown Bat can fly with incredible agility and speed because of its specially designed wings, helping it snatch insects mid-air. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 6-10 cm - **Wingspan:** 22-27 cm - **Weight:** 0.005-0.011 kg - **Lifespan:** 6-34 years - **Speed:** 35 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1 - **Gestation:** 50-60 days ## Diet & Feeding These tiny hunters zoom through the night, munching on pesky flying insects like mosquitoes! - **Primary Foods:** moths, mosquitoes, beetles, caddisflies, midges - **Foraging Method:** Pursuit ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Great Horned Owl](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-horned-owl) (*Bubo virginianus*) — Owls are common predators of bats. - **Eaten by:** [Raccoon](https://www.snappit.app/explore/raccoon) (*Procyon lotor*) — Raccoons may prey on bats in roosts or during hibernation. - **Hunts:** Common House Mosquito (*Culex pipiens*) — Bats actively hunt mosquitoes, helping control their numbers. - **Hunts:** Black Cutworm Moth (*Agrotis ipsilon*) — Moths are a major food source for these insectivorous bats. ## Traits - [Wildlife](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats. - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Cave Dwelling](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/cave-dwelling): Cave dwelling describes organisms specifically adapted to live in underground cave systems, often exhibiting specialized traits due to lack of light. - [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. - [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 Little Brown Bats are not dangerous and prefer to stay away from people. If you see one, just admire it from a distance! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Little 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 Little Brown Bat? 6-10 cm ### What is Little Brown Bat's wingspan? 22-27 cm ### How much does Little Brown Bat weigh? 0.005-0.011 kg ### How long does Little Brown Bat live? 6-34 years ### How fast can Little Brown Bat move? 35 km/h ### What does Little Brown Bat eat? These tiny hunters zoom through the night, munching on pesky flying insects like mosquitoes! ### Where is Little Brown Bat usually found? Caves, forests, and buildings ## Where to spot - [Berry Botanic Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/berry-botanic-garden) — Oregon, US · Botanical Garden - [Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/crystal-springs-rhododendron-garden) — Oregon, US · Botanical Garden - [Ole Bull State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/ole-bull-state-park) — Pennsylvania, US · State Park - [Plainfield Village Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/plainfield-village-historic-district) — Vermont, US · Historic District - [Lakeview Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/lakeview-park) — Michigan, US · Park [View all places to see Little Brown Bat](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/little-brown-bat) ## 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: [Little Brown Bat: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/little-brown-bat)