NEBRASKAland Magazine is dedicated to outstanding photography and informative writing with an engaging mix of articles and photos highlighting Nebraska’s outdoor activities, parklands, wildlife, history and people.
Issue link: http://mag.outdoornebraska.gov/i/708333
AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2016 • NEBRASKAland 57 YEAR-ROUND RESIDENTS YEAR-ROUND RESIDENTS Big Brown Bat Year-round residents and Nebraska's most common bat. Commonly roost in attics, barns and other buildings, as well as large, hollow trees. Summer female nursery colonies average about 100 bats. Females have one or two young per year. Hibernate in caves, mines, cellars, storm sewers and buildings that stay above freezing. Often take flights on warm winter nights to drink. Little Brown Bat Found in the eastern quarter of Nebraska, along the North Platte River in extreme western Nebraska, in the Pine Ridge, and along the Niobrara River. Roost primarily in buildings. Females have one young and form nursery colonies that can contain hundreds or thousands of individuals. Hibernating bats have not been found in the Pine Ridge and researchers believe that some might winter in caves in the Black Hills. Commonly found hibernating in mines in eastern Nebraska. Northern Long-Eared Bat Found in eastern Nebraska, along the Niobrara River across northern Nebraska and in the Pine Ridge, and also occurs along the Republican River. Roosts under peeling bark and in cracks of dead or live trees, and occasionally in buildings. Nursery colonies may contain dozens of females. Females have one young. Known to hibernate from October to March in caves and mines, but recent findings suggest they may also hibernate in cracks in cliffs. Tricolored Bat Formerly known as the Eastern pipistrelle, found mostly near limestone quarries in Cass and Sarpy counties, but some have been captured along the Niobrara River in Cherry County, in Dixon County, and from Happy Jack Chalk Mine in Greeley County. Hibernate in mines, rock faces and attics. Roost in trees in summer. The smallest of Nebraska's bats, weighing one- sixth of an ounce, equal to a nickel. Females bear twins. Fringed Bat The relatively few records of this western species are from the Pine Ridge, Wildcat Hills and Pine Bluffs areas in western Nebraska. A year-round resident of the Black Hills, and likely Nebraska as well. Elsewhere it is known to breed, roost and hibernate in caves, mines and buildings, but recently researchers have found them roosting in ponderosa pine trees in the Pine Ridge. Females have one pup. Western Small-Footed Bat Western species found primarily in the Panhandle, but some have been captured along the North Platte River, in central Nebraska near Halsey and along the Niobrara River. Found in northwestern Kansas and may be present along the Republican River in southwestern Nebraska. Roosts in rock crevices, in buildings and under the peeling bark of trees. Hibernates in caves and mines. Females have one young. Long-Legged Bat Western species found only in the Pine Ridge. Females have one pup and form nursery colonies in tree cavities, under bark, in buildings and in rock crevices. Hibernate in caves and mines, likely in the Black Hills, but some may also winter in northwestern Nebraska. MIGRATORY SPECIES MIGRATORY SPECIES Hoary Bat The largest of the bats found in Nebraska at 1.25 ounces. Solitary animals roost in the leaves or bark of trees or in other vegetation. Found statewide from May to October. Many more migrate through state to and from points north. It has the largest range of all North American bats, stretching from Argentina and Chile to the boreal forests of northern Canada, and is most common in the northwestern United States and the Plains. Females usually have one pup but can have as many as four. Eastern Red Bat Found in a variety of wooded habitats across Nebraska, including riparian and urban forests, the Pine Ridge, Wildcat Hills and Niobrara River valley. Colored orange to rusty red. Roosts in foliage of trees and other vegetation. Begins arriving in late April and most are gone by late- October. Recently found to winter under the leaf litter on the forest floor in locations as close as Missouri. Females have two to five pups. Evening Bat Found only in southeastern Nebraska 20 years ago, this species is expanding its range westward along wooded river corridors, and is now found along the entire Republican River and the Platte as far west as Buffalo County. Females form nursery colonies in hollow trees, under tree bark and in buildings, and have twins. Present in Nebraska from April to late- September. Silver-Haired Bat Once believed to only pass through Nebraska in the spring and fall, the species is now known to breed in southeastern Nebraska, the Pine Ridge, and along the North Platte River. Some may even hibernate here in trees, buildings, mines and caves, but there are no winter records of the species here. Roosts under bark and in cracks in trees, and in sheds, garages and barns. Females bear twins. OTHER SPECIES OTHER SPECIES Townsends Big-Eared Bat The only Nebraska record of this cave and mine-dwelling species common in the western United States came from the Pine Ridge in Sheridan County in 1972. A year- round resident of the Black Hills in South Dakota and also found in eastern Wyoming, researchers suspect there may be a few of this hard-to-net species in cave-like holes scattered around the badlands of Toadstool Geologic Park, the Pine Ridge or the Wildcat Hills. Females have one pup. Its very large ears are distinctive. Brazillian Free-Tailed Bat This colonial species is native to the southern United States, where it congregates in large numbers in caves in places like Carlsbad Caverns National Park in New Mexico, where visitors can watch them pour out of the cave at night as they leave to feed on insects. Fewer than 10 of the species have been found in Nebraska, likely young that lost their way during migration. ■ Nebraska's Bat Species