Types of Bats in Arkansas are some of the cutest and most adorable animals on the planet! But did you know that they can also be pretty scary?
Well, maybe they are as dangerous as wolves or bears, but Arkansans still need to know what to do in case we come into contact with bats here in our great state.
So here are 16 types of bats found in Arkansas that you should watch out for!
1. Big Brown Bat
The Big Brown, among the types of bats in Arkansas, also known as the Northern Broad-Wing bat, is the most common species.
They are typically found in forests and other wooded areas.
These bats in Arkansas have a wingspan that reaches about ten inches and weighs an average of three to four ounces.
Females usually only have one baby yearly but can give birth up to three times each summer if conditions are right.
It takes about six weeks for them to grow their fur back after molting in the summer months, and they can live for up to twelve years or more!
2. Hoary Bat
The Hoary Bat is among Arkansas’s most common types of Bats, with a population exceeding 2.5 million bats.
These nocturnal flying mammals are found throughout North America and as far south as South America.
The Hoary Bat is one of the largest bat species in North America, weighing 3-4 ounces with a wingspan reaching up to 18 inches.
Their habitat includes woodland areas, caves, rock crevices, and buildings.
The Hoary Bat’s diet consists primarily of insects, but they will also eat spiders and other small invertebrates, such as scorpions or centipedes, that they can catch while in flight.
Moths are their favorite prey, but they will also eat mosquitoes when available during the summer months.
3. Silver-haired Bat
The silver-haired bats in Arkansas are the largest among other types of Bats in Arkansas.
Its color ranges from light brown to black, and has a large head and snout.
The fur on its back is long, coarse, and dark brown to black. It has a white belly with sparse hair that extends past its uropatagium.
The ears are large and round, with a tragus longer than wide.
The silver-haired bats in Arkansas roost in trees or shrubs during the day, but at night, they will roost in buildings or caves.
These types of Bats in Arkansas are not known to be colonial nesters like other bats are, but they will move around to find new places if necessary.
4. Little Brown Bat
The Little Brown Bats in Arkansas is one of North America’s most widespread bats.
These Bats in Arkansas are typically found in forested areas, though they also inhabit towns and cities, searching for food sources.
These tiny creatures can roost in attics, barns, or trees. Though they may appear cute, they carry rabies.
These types of Bats in Arkansas are known to travel up to fifteen miles a night while searching for food.
Other names for this species are the Northern Brown Bat and the Common Bat.
5. Eastern Red Bat
The Eastern Red Bats in Arkansas are medium-sized bats usually found in the northeast of America.
It is most commonly found near water sources and wetlands.
Eastern Red Bats have reddish or brown fur, and their ears are large, rounded, and black.
These types of Bats in Arkansas have a wingspan that ranges from 2 1/4 to 3 inches long.
Eastern Red bats are insectivores and often consume mosquitoes, moths, beetles, flies, midges, mayflies, caddisflies, stoneflies, fireflies, and lacewings. These bats can live up to 20 years in the wild!
6. Tricolored Bat
The tricolored bat is the most common species in North America.
These types of bats in Arkansas prefer to live in buildings, trees, and bridges.
Although they are not commonly seen during the day, they can be found at dusk and dawn.
These bats primarily eat insects and fruit but will also eat frogs, small snakes, and lizards.
The tricolored bat is the most common species in North America.
These types of Bats in Arkansas prefer to live in buildings, trees, and bridges.
Although they are not commonly seen during the day, these types of bats in Arkansas can be found at dusk and dawn.
These bats primarily eat insects and fruit but will also eat frogs, small snakes, and lizards.
7. Northern Long-eared Bat
Northern long-eared bats are typical to the north and east of the Mississippi River.
These types of Bats in Arkansas often roost in trees and around buildings.
Other names for these bats in Arkansas are northern long-eared myotis, big-eared bats, or just plain long-eared bats.
These bats are small and stocky, with a cute little ear that gives them their name.
Northern long-ears have dark brown fur on their back and lighter brown fur on their stomach.
Their ears are large enough to be seen 100 yards away from the bat!
So, if you see one during the day, it’s most likely flying out at night to hunt insects in open areas like fields or meadows.
8. Evening Bat
This bat is a nocturnal animal, meaning they sleep during the day and awake at night.
These types of Bats in Arkansas live in trees; their favorite food is moths.
However, they sometimes eat insects, spiders, and even small birds or mice.
These types of Bats in Arkansas can be found worldwide except in Antarctica.
These types of bats in Arkansas are called evening bats because they feed at dusk and dawn.
The females usually have one pup per year. The males are polygynous, which means they mate with more than one female each season.
9. Eastern Small-footed Bat
Eastern small-footed bats are the most common bat found in Arkansas.
These types of bats in Arkansas are usually brown with a grayish head and white stripes on their back.
Eastern small-footed bats eat insects, such as beetles, flies, and mosquitoes.
These types of Bats in Arkansas live in trees and bushes daily, hanging from their feet to rest. At night, they fly around hunting for food.
These bats can be found throughout the United States and are considered very beneficial to humans because they eat so many insects!
10. Indiana Bat
Indiana bats are one of the most common types in Arkansas.
These types of bats in Arkansas are also the most miniature bats in North America.
Indiana bats can be found throughout the state and hibernate during the winter months in caves or mines.
Indiana bats primarily eat insects but sometimes consume other small animals such as frogs and mice.
These types of Bats in Arkansas have been known to live up to 25 years! The female gives birth to one pup per year, usually in June.
11. Townsend’s Big-eared Bat
Townsend’s big-eared bat in Arkansas is a medium-sized bat with a twelve to sixteen inches wingspan.
It can be found in forested areas with shrubs, trees, and open places.
The Townsend’s big-eared bat feeds on moths, beetles, and other insects.
They are not picky eaters and will feed on anything available.
These Bats in Arkansas use echolocation to find their prey when it is dark outside.
Echolocation is the animal’s way of finding food through sound waves.
When the bat emits high-frequency sounds, it bounces back off objects to give them information about its surroundings.
12. Seminole Bat
The Seminole Bats in Arkansas is a bat species found in Central and South America, with populations also found in Texas, Florida, Arizona, and Oklahoma.
This type of bat is one the only types known to migrate.
These types of Bats in Arkansas have been reported to migrate up to 600 miles from their roosting site during winter.
The Seminole Bat has a wingspan of 12-14 inches and weighs between 5-10 grams (a little over an ounce).
The Seminole Bat is nocturnal and roosts in tree cavities or rock crevices during the day.
Therefore, the best time to see this type of bat is after sunset when they emerge to feed on insects.
13. Mexican Free-tailed Bat
Mexican free-tailed bats are the most common type of bats in Arkansas.
These types of Bats in Arkansas live in caves and mines throughout the state and roost in large colonies.
Mexican free-tails often eat bugs like mosquitoes that would otherwise harm humans.
The average lifespan of a Mexican free-tailed bat is about 20 years.
These Bats in Arkansas easily identify with their brown body, black wings, and white-nose leaves extending over their nose.
14. Gray Bat
Rafinesque’s Big-eared Bats in Arkansas is the largest giant bat in North America and the only species in its genus.
These bats are found in Arkansas and across much of the eastern United States.
The bats’ large ears pick up low-frequency sounds emitted by insect prey.
Bats in Arkansas prefer to roost in dense foliage near water and use echolocation to navigate through forests where they hunt their prey during night hours.
As a result, the Rafinesque’s Big-eared Bat is listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act, which requires federal agencies to avoid taking actions that will jeopardize a species’ survival or result in extinction.
15. Rafinesque’s Big-eared Bat
Rafinesque’s Big-eared Bat is a medium-sized bat found in the eastern half of North America.
These types of Bats in Arkansas are usually brown or rusty red, with a hairless face and short, rounded ears. This species is non-migratory.
These Bats in Arkansas roost primarily in trees near streams and ponds or buildings with large open windows.
Females form nursery colonies during summer to raise their young, while males roost alone throughout the year.
Males have been documented to fly up to 60 miles from their usual home range, looking for females during mating season.
16. Southeastern Myotis
The southeastern myotis is one of Arkansas’s most common types of bats.
These Bats in Arkansas are migratory species found in many regions across the country and are known to inhabit various habitats.
The average lifespan for this type is about seven years, usually brown or grey.
The southeastern myotis have been known to eat beetles, moths, flies, caddisflies, and other bats!
These bats in Arkansas typically make their roosts close to water sources like streams and rivers but have also been known to make their homes inside hollow trees.