LIST: 5 bat species found in Virginia

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — According to the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources , 17 species of bats have been observed in Virginia.

8News has compiled a list showcasing five bats found in Virginia, with some considered endangered by the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources.

Rafinesque’s Big-eared Bat

Rafinesque’s big-eared bats are found in bottomland hardwoods and swamps in the Coastal Plain in Virginia. It is considered to be a cave or tree bat depending on its geographic location. According to the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, they can be found in caves and mines farther north and west up the Appalachian mountains.

Like the Virginia big-eared bat, moths make up to 90% of the diet of Rafinesque’s big-eared bats, with beetles and other flying insects comprising the rest of their diet, according to the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources.

The bat is considered to be state endangered in Virginia with its primary threats being the loss and degradation of coastal bottomland hardwood forests. It is on the list of Mammals of Greatest Conservation Need on the Virginia Wildlife Action Plan .

Virginia Big-eared Bat

The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources describes the Virginia big-eared bat as the “mountain version” of the Rafinesque’s big-eared bat. It is only found in a few counties in caves year round, with wintering sites often different than summer maternity or bachelor roost sites. It is Virginia’s official state bat .

The bat feeds over corn fields, pastures, hay fields, small woodlots and large forested tracts. They feed on beetles, flies, wasps and hoppers, however, moths make up the largest part of their diet.

The Virginia big-eared bat is considered federally endangered in the United States and state endangered in Virginia. It is also on the list of Mammals of Greatest Conservation Need on the Virginia Wildlife Action Plan .

According to the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, its primary threats are loss and degradation of hibernacula, or sites where bats hibernate in the winter, and summer roosts.

Little Brown Bat

According to the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, the little brown bat can be found throughout Virginia except for a few portions of southeast Virginia. It was one of the most common bats found in the state before the outbreak of white-nose syndrome.

According to the National Park Service , white-nose syndrome is a disease that creates a visible white fungal growth on infected bats’ muzzles and wings. It is a cold-loving fungus that infects bats during hibernation, when bats reduce their metabolic rate and lower their body temperature to save energy over winter.

The little brown bat is on the list of Mammals of Greatest Conservation Need on the Virginia Wildlife Action Plan . According to the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, white-nose syndrome is the primary threat to this species.

Big Brown Bat

The big brown bat is one of the largest bats in the state, measuring 4 to 5.1 inches in length and weighing less than an ounce. Their large size and uniformly brown fur color make them one of Virginia’s easiest bats to identify, according to the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources.

The bat is found across the entire state and is one of the most common bats in the United States. It often hibernates in manmade structures including old buildings and churches, but will use caves and rock shelters as well. During the summer, the bat is often found in barns, sheds and old buildings.

According to the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, big brown bats can eat up to a third of their body weight in insects every night, frequently feeding on agricultural pests.

Evening Bat

The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources describes the evening bat as a tree bat with the appearance of a “scaled-down” version of the big brown bat. In Virginia, it is known from the Piedmont and Coastal Plain, but not from the mountains except for two records.

The bat has adapted well to human structures. In forested settings, evening bats use cavities and sloughing bark as roost and maternity sites, according to the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources.

A maternity colony was discovered on the Virginia Polytechnic Institute campus during renovations to a building, and an individual was captured during a survey in Tazewell County.

According to the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, evening bats have a strong odor that distinguishes them from other Virginia bats.

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