There are several different types of bats that can be found in Virginia, Washington D.C., Maryland, and West Virginia. Animal Control Solutions is equipped to handle and remove the bats found in our service areas.
Bats found in Virginia caves:
The most common Bat found in Virginia, Washington D.C., Maryland and West Virginia is the Gray Bat. It is a medium sized short-eared bat with short, soft, gray-brown hair. They weigh 1/4 to 3/8 ounces and have a total length of 3-4 inches.
The little brown bat has dark yellow-brown to olive brown fur. It weighs 5-14 grams and is typically 85-98 mm long. Their typical life expectancy is 2 years for males and 2-3 years for females. Moths are a major part of their diet as well as midges, mayflies, and aquatic insects.
The eastern small-footed bat is rare in Virginia but has been spotted on occasion. They are found in heavily wooded areas and mountain regions but do not exclusively live in caves. Their length is between 2 7/8 and 3 1/4 inches and have chestnut brown fur with black accents. Small footed bats have a life span of around 12 years and their diet consists of mosquitoes, small beetles, true bugs, and ants.
Northern long-eared bats are medium sized with brown fur with their stomachs being a lighter color than their back. Their length averages 79-100 mm and their wingspread is between 228-258 mm. The average weight of an adult Northern long-eared bat is around 5-10 grams. This species forages on mainly hillsides and in forests in search for small insects, especially flies.
The Indiana bat can be found in the western part of Virginia and tend to stay near wooded areas that have streams flowing through as this is where they find moths and other insects. Their length is 77-91 mm with a wing spread of 240-267 mm. The typical weight of an adult pinkish-brown furred Indiana Bat is 1/4-1/3 ounces and can live to be 20 years old.
The Eastern pipistrelle is one of the smallest bats with its total length being 2 3/4 to 3 3/4 inches. Their yellow-brown hair helps distinguish them from other bats. The typical life span is 4-8 years, which they spend in caves and rock crevices while living on a diet of moths, grasshoppers, beetles, wasps, and flies.
The big brown bat is one of the larger bats with a length of 103-130 mm and a weight of 13-18 grams. This bat can be found throughout Virginia and is one of the most common bats to enter a house through the fireplace. Their diets consist of insects.
Virginia big-eared bats average length is 90-112 mm and the average adult weighs 9-12 grams. Their huge ears are joined across their forehead. They have long brown fur with their dorsal hairs being dark brown on the tip. During their life span of up to 16 years, they will feed on mostly corn, alfalfa, and insects.
Bats found in Virginia trees:
The southern myotis has a very similar appearance to the little brown bat but can be distinguished by its shorter, thicker fur that is gray-brown or orange. They are usually 77-97 mm long and weigh 5-8 grams. The southern myotis prefers hollow trees for shelter where it can easily find insects to eat.
Silver haired bats live up to their name with long brownish-black silver-tipped fur that covers their 3 3/4-4 5/8 inch long bodies. Their life span of around 12 years is spent setting up habitats around steams and rivers to have their young while looking for insects to eat.
Medium sized eastern red bats have a total length of 3 1/2 to 4 3/4 inches long with red to rusty fur. This bat is common throughout Virginia and lives in hollow tree where they feed on beetles, cicadas, and crickets.
The hoary bat is the largest in the region with a weight of 3/4- 1 1/4 ounces and a length of 4 7/8 to 5 5/8 inches. The light brown hoary bat typically feeds on moths, mosquitoes, dragonflies, grasshoppers, and wasps.
The northern yellow bat is true to its name with yellowish-brown fur that covers its 4.5 inch body and its wingspread of about 375 mm. They can be found in the Norfolk region of Virginia where they eat insects of all kinds.
Seminole bats feed on flies, beetles, and other flying insects that are in the south-eastern part of Virginia. Their 4 inch bodies are a deep mahogany color and can have white patches on parts of their body.
The evening bat can be seen mostly in the eastern part of Virginia in the Piedmont Region where they feed on insects. Their 75-105 mm bodies are covered in sparse brown fur that makes them resemble the big brown bat.
Rafinesque’s eastern big-eared bat is found in the Virginia Beach, VA area and lived in hollow trees where they feed on a died that is mostly moths. Whitish-yellow hair covers their 80-110 mm bodies and have huge ears that are up to twice the length of their head.
For other questions regarding bats, visit our FAQ page or contact Animal Control Solutions at (540) 371-4244.
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