Big brown bat

The big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus) is a type of vesper bat. It is found in North America, the Caribbean, and the northern part of South America. The big brown bat weighs 15–26 g (0.53–0.92 oz). It has a wingspan of 32.5–35 cm (12.8–13.8 in).

 Description 
It is a large microbat. It weighs 15–26 g (0.53–0.92 oz). It is 110–130 mm (4.3–5.1 in) long. Its wingspan is 32.5–35 cm (12.8–13.8 in). Its dorsal fur is reddish brown. Its ventral fur is lighter brown. Its snout, uropatagium, and wings are black and do not have any hair. Its ears are also black and short.

 Distribution and Habitat 
The big brown bat is found from southern Canada and Alaska to as far south as Colombia and Venezuela. It has also been seen in the Caribbean in both the Greater and Lesser Antilles, including Cuba, Hispaniola, Dominica, Barbados, and the Bahamas. The big brown bat has been seen from 300–3,100 m (980–10,170 ft) above sea level. It is able to live in urban, suburban, or rural environments.

 Feeding 
Big brown bats are insectivorous. They eat many kinds of insects like beetles, flies, stone flies, mayflies, true bugs, net-winged insects, scorpionflies, caddisflies, and cockroaches.

 Behavior 
The big brown bat is a nocturnal animal. It roosts in sheltered places during the day. It roosts in mines, caves, tunnels, buildings, bat boxes, tree cavities, storm drains, wood piles, and rock crevices. In the summer, males usually live by themselves though they may form a small group that is only made up of males.

 Reproduction 
Big brown bat mating season is in the fall. After the breeding season, pregnant females separate into maternity colonies around April. Maternity colonies range in size from 5-700 bats. The pups are blind and helpless. It weighs 3 g (0.11 oz). The pup sucks milk from its mother for one month. Pups begin flying, at three to five weeks old.

References

Notes

Category:Bats
Category:Mammals of North America
Category:Mammals of South America