Many people are scared of bats in Texas, but they are essential animals that help with the pollination and natural pest control of plants.
Some bats can also spread rabies, so it’s critical to identify different types of bats in Texas to protect yourself and your pets from getting bitten.
Here are the 16 most common types of bats in Texas.
1. Mexican Long-Nosed Bat
The Mexican long-nosed bat is one of Texas’s 16 types of bats. It’s important to know what kind of bat you have in your home, as different species have different habits and preferences.
For example, the Mexican long-nosed bat is a flower feeder, which feeds on nectar and pollen from flowers. If you have these bats in your home, you’ll want to ensure plenty of flowers nearby for them to feed on.
2. Ghost-FacedBat
The Ghost-faced Bat is found in the southwestern United States and Mexico. These types of bats in Texas get their name from the white fur on their faces, which makes them look like they have a ghostly appearance. It is a small bat with a body length of only 3-4 inches.
The Ghost-faced Bat is brown or gray, with a wingspan of 9-10 inches. This bat feeds on moths and other insects. Like most bats, this species will use echolocation to find food at night.
3. Big Free-TailedBat
The giant bat in North America, the Big free-tailed bat, has a wingspan of nearly two and a half feet! And its body can get up to four and a half inches long.
These guys are primarily from the western U.S. but migrate to Texas for the winter. They roost in caves and eat insects, especially moths.
4. Cave Myotis
The Cave Myotis is a small, grayish-brown bat with reddish-brown wings. It has a wingspan of 9 to 11 inches and weighs between 0.5 and 1 ounce. These types of bats in Texas are found in caves and other dark places, alone or in small groups.
It feeds on insects, including moths, beetles, and mosquitoes. The Cave Myotis is not considered endangered.
5. Hoary Bat
The hoary bat is one of the giant bats, with a wingspan reaching up to 24 inches. It’s also one of the most widespread in North and South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. In Texas, hoary bats are most commonly seen in the western and central parts of the state.
These types of bats in Texas are brown or gray with white tips on their fur and large ears. Hoary bats eat various insects, including moths, beetles, and wasps
6. Rafinesque’s Big-EaredBat
This bat is one of the largest in Texas, with a wingspan reaching up to 16 inches. Its furry body is dark brown or black, and its ears are long and narrow.
These types of bats in Texas are found in wooded areas near water, where they roost in trees during the day and hunt for insects at night. Rafinesque’s big-eared bat is endangered due to habitat loss.
7. American Parastrelle
The American Parastrelle is one of the smallest bat species in North America. These types of bats in Texas have reddish-brown or gray fur, and their undersides are paler.
They live in various habitats, including forests, deserts, and suburban areas. In Texas, they are found in the western and central parts of the state.
8. Silver-Haired Bat
The silver-haired bat is one of the most common types of bats in Texas. These types of bats in Texas are primarily found in wooded areas near streams or ponds. They roost in trees during the day and emerge at night to hunt for insects.
Silver-haired bats are small, with a wingspan of only 8-10 inches. They are dark brown or black, with silver-tipped hairs on their back and shoulders.
9. Yuma Myotis
The Yuma myotis is a small bat with reddish-brown fur. It is found in the southwestern United States and Mexico. In Texas, it is most common in the western and central parts of the state.
These types of bats in Texas typically roost in trees but can also be found in caves and buildings. It feeds on insects, including moths, beetles, and flies.
10. Western Red Bat
The Western Red Bat is one of Texas’s most common types of bats. These bats are primarily found in the western and central parts of the state, and they roost in trees during the day and forage insects at night.
Western Red Bats are reddish-brown or cinnamon-colored with long, pointy ears. They weigh about 1⁄2 ounce and have a wingspan of 10-12 inches.
11. Long-Levgged Myotis
The long-legged myotis is also one of Texas’s most common types of bats. They are small, with a wingspan of only 8 to 10 inches. Their fur is brown or gray, and they have long tails.
These types of bats in Texas eat insects and can be found near water sources. They tend to roost close together during the day, making them easy prey for owls and other predators. In addition, these types of bats need large amounts of water for drinking.
12. Evening Bat
The evening bat is one of the most common types of bats in Texas. They are small, with a wingspan of only 9 to 10 inches. They are brown or reddish-brown, with light-colored bellies.
Evening bats eat various insects, including moths, beetles, and mosquitoes. They roost in trees during the day and can often be seen flying around at dusk.
They use echolocation to hunt their prey by sending high-frequency sound waves bounce off nearby objects. They then receive these echoes and use them to find their way.
13. Northern Yellow Bat
The northern yellow bat is one of the types of bats in Texas. It’s small and yellowish-brown, with a wingspan of only 8 to 10 inches. This bat is found in the eastern and central United States as well as parts of Canada and Mexico.
It roosts in trees during the day and feeds on moths, beetles, and other insects at night. During mating season, males emit loud chirps, which attract females.
They give birth twice a year, but each baby typically lives for just five months. Northern yellow bats are endangered because they have a short lifespan and are hunted by humans for their fur.
14. Pallid Bat
The pallid bat is a tan to grayish-brown bat with long, pale hairs on its back. It is one of the giant bats in North America, with a wingspan of up to 16 inches.
Pallid bats are found in arid regions of the southwestern United States, Mexico, and parts of Central America.
These types of bats in Texas roost in caves, trees, and buildings during the day and emerge at night to hunt for insects. They are solitary animals that do not form large colonies like some other bats.
Like other insectivorous bats, they eat many agricultural pests such as locusts, beetles, grasshoppers, caterpillars, mayflies, caddisflies, and moths. They also pollinate cacti by feeding on the nectar of flowers such as prickly pear cactus.
15. Seminole Bat
The Seminole bat is a species of bat that is found in the southern United States. This bat is reddish-brown and has a wingspan of 9 to 10 inches. The Seminole bat is an insectivore and feeds on moths, beetles, and other small insects.
These types of bats in Texas roost in trees and caves and can be found in Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Mississippi.
They prefer wet areas such as swamps or near lakes. These bats are nocturnal and are most active during the late summer months when it’s hot outside.
It is endangered due to habitat loss from logging, agriculture, urbanization, and pesticide pollution. The Seminole bat can also carry rabies, so people should stay away from these bats if they come into contact with them or see them acting strangely (such as flying during the day).
16. Common Vampire Bat
The Common Vampire Bat is found throughout most of Central and South America. They roost in trees, caves, old buildings, and even under the eaves of houses.
These types of bats in Texas are reddish-brown to grayish-brown in color with a wingspan of 9 to 11 inches. It has a bare, wrinkled face, small eyes, and long, sharp teeth.
It feeds primarily on the blood of mammals such as cattle, horses, and humans. The Common Vampire Bat is the only species of bat known to transmit rabies to humans.
All vampire bats have saliva that contains an anticoagulant called Draculin, which allows them to feed without causing injury to their prey.
The Common Vampire Bat usually drinks approximately one ounce of blood daily from its victim while the victim sleeps at night.
