An Official Website of the Commonwealth of Kentucky
Bats are the only true flying mammals. Taxonomically, they belong to the mammalian order Chiroptera, which means ‘hand wing.’ This name references the elongated finger bones that make up a bat’s wing.
Figure 1. Drawing by Rick Hill shows a Bat's wing anatomy labeled as follows:
All of Kentucky’s bat species are insectivores, meaning they primarily eat insects. When food is scarce in winter, they hibernate or head south to warmer regions. Bats that hibernate in Kentucky mate in the fall and winter. Female bats store sperm over the winter, and ovulation and fertilization occur in the spring. Females usually emerge from hibernation before males. In many species, female bats establish maternity colonies where they have their young. Pregnant females usually go to the same area where they were born to have their young. Maternity colonies may be in caves, under loose tree bark, or in manmade structures. Some species, such as the red bat, will remain solitary. Female bats may have anywhere from one to four young called ‘pups’ born during May and June.
Protecting and Monitoring the Endangered Virginia Big-Eared Bats in Kentucky
Bats use a sophisticated navigation system called echolocation to maneuver in total darkness. They produce high-frequency vocalizations that bounce off objects around them, creating echoes that return to the bat. These echoes allow the bat to tell the size, speed and direction of movement for objects around them. Using echolocation, bats can detect extraordinary details about their environment, even something as fine as human hair. Sometimes bats appear to fly erratically, but they are simply processing echoes in their pursuit of prey. Bats are often seen swooping around outdoor lights to take advantage of the insects they attract.
Sometimes, man-made structures such as houses, attics, barns or garages are used by bats. Bats roost under window shutters, in attics, or behind gutters- any place that provides privacy, protection, and warmth. During the summer, when young bats learn to fly, they occasionally may end up on the ground. If you find a young bat on the ground, keep all children and pets away from it, as it will typically take off again. If it appears injured, please contact your local licensed wildlife rehabilitator.
Rafinesque's Big-Eared Bat
Sixteen species of bats have been documented in Kentucky. Fourteen of these are considered permanent or seasonal residents. The Seminole bat appears to be expanding its range into Kentucky and possibly breeds here now. The Brazilian (or Mexican) free-tailed bat occurs as an occasional wanderer, though there is prehistoric evidence that the species used to reside in Kentucky. Three of Kentucky’s bat species are federally endangered: the Virginia big-eared bat (Corynorhinus townsendii virginianus), the Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis), and the gray bat (Myotis grisescens). The Northern long-eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis) is listed as federally threatened.
BIG BROWN BAT(Eptesicus fuscus)
BRAZILIAN FREE-TAILED BAT (Tadarida braziliensis
EASTERN RED BAT(Lasiurus borealis)
EASTERN SMALL-FOOTED MYOTIS (Myotis leibii)
EVENING BAT(Nycticeius humeralis)
GRAY BAT(Myotis grisescens)
HOARY BAT(Lasiurus cinereus)
INDIANA BAT (Myotis sodalis)
LITTLE BROWN BAT (Myotis lucifugus)
NORTHERNLONG-EARED BAT (Myotis septentrionalis)
RAFINESQUE'SBIG-EARED BAT(Corynorhinus rafinesquii)
SEMINOLE BAT(Lasiurus seminolus)
SILVER-HAIRED BAT (Lasionycteris noctivagans)
SOUTHEASTERN MYOTIS(Myotis austroriparius)
TRICOLORED BAT (Perimyotis subflavus)
VIRGINIA BIG-EARED BAT (Corynorhinus townsendii virginianus)
Bats Are Flying Rodents
FACT: Bats are actually more closely related to primates than rodents. They are generally long-lived and most only have one young per year.
Bats Are Blind
FACT: Bats can see as well as most other mammals but most rely more on a sophisticated sonar system, echolocation, to get around and capture prey.
Bats Attack Humans
FACT: A bat may swoop towards you in pursuit of prey but echolocation allows them to be very accurate flyers and avoid obstacles, including your hair.
All Bats Drink Blood
FACT: Only vampire bats feed on blood. Of the 1300+ bat species found worldwide, just three species are vampire bats. They are found only in Mexico, Central America and South America.
All bats carry rabies
FACT: Like other mammals, bats can contract rabies but less than one half of one percent do.
Bats are dirty animals
FACT: Like cats, bats are constantly grooming themselves to keep clean.
Bats play a vital role in our ecosystems, but they can also be associated with certain diseases that affect people. At the same time, bats themselves face serious threats like White-nose Syndrome — a fungal disease that affects only bats and has caused dramatic population declines across North America. This section offers information on WNS, what to do if you find a sick or injured bat, and information on diseases like rabies and histoplasmosis.
Histoplasmosis is a fungal infection caused by spores that can be found in the droppings of birds and bats. It can lead to symptoms ranging from mild to severe pneumonia in people. In the United States, the fungus is most commonly found in the central and eastern regions. Learn more.
Rabies is a viral infection that affects all mammals, including humans, pets and livestock. It is 100% fatal once symptoms occur. In North America, around 90% of rabies cases are found in wildlife. In Kentucky, raccoons, skunks and bats are the main vectors of the disease. Learn more.
Report injured or sick bats via the online Report a Bat form. Ensure no children, pets or other animals can come into contact with the sick or injured bat.
If the bat is on the ground and does not appear to be injured, you can cover it with a small box (shoebox size) and use a flat piece of cardboard to slip between the ground and the bat. Once the bat is secure in the box, find a tree to place the bat on without direct handling. If the bat is still there after 24 hours, please report the bat using Report a Bat Form.
301 KAR 2:081 prohibits holding native bats as pets.
The Scientific and Educational Collecting Permit authorizes the collecting and holding of wildlife for zoological, educational or scientific purposes. This permit also gives temporary authorization. Go to the Scientific and Educational Collecting page for more information and to download the application.
This information is primarily for people who have a problem with bats in their home or other structures and want help dealing with them. If you observe several bats in your structure during the summer, you likely have what is known as a maternity or nursery colony. This is a group of females that congregate to have and raise their young. The species you will most likely encounter are "big brown bats" and "little brown bats." Without intervention, they can come back to the same site year after year. Bats may be observed as early as April when they come out of hibernation, though they usually are not noticed until May when the maternity colonies begin forming. Some people find that they can live in harmony with bats if they stay outdoors, but having bats flying in your living quarters (e.g., bedroom, den, etc.) makes the situation undesirable. Many homeowners become aware of bats in their homes in June and July. This is because, during this time, juveniles are learning to fly and may accidentally enter your living quarters.
A bat problem will not be solved by simply removing the bats. To successfully deal with the issue, you must ‘bat proof’ the building by locating where the bats are entering/existing and then closing off access. These exclusion activities must be done at the proper time of year by the homeowner or a licensed Wildlife Control Operator. By setting up a "one-way" exit and sealing up all other possible entry points, you avoid trapping bats inside the building and prevent them from returning. There are several resources available to assist in exclusion efforts:
If you have NOT had any direct contact with the bat, treat it as you would a bird and open doors and windows to the outside while blocking entry points to the rest of your home. Keep in mind that when a bat is in an enclosed space, such as a room in your house, it will circle repeatedly. If you are in the room with the bat, the circular flight seems menacing, but the bat is simply trying to escape the room. The bat may wear itself out and land on something; you may then place something like a coffee can or a shoebox over it and then slide a piece of cardboard under the container. You should never directly handle the bat. Although a bat may occasionally fly in a window or open door, there is a possibility that you may have a colony living somewhere in your house. To be safe, make sure to refer to the above section for guidance.
Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources only offers guidance on how homeowners can deal with bats. However, we maintain a list of permitted wildlife control operators that a landowner can hire to assist in dealing with and excluding wildlife. Some deal specifically with bats.
Operators cannot adequately deal with bat maternity colonies until after the recommended date of August 15 because there could be flightless young present (from mid-May to mid-August.) Adult bats exit every night and return to nurse their young. If exclusion methods were fully implemented, flightless young could become trapped inside your house and starve to death, causing an unsanitary and unnecessary problem. HOWEVER, if you are having bats flying in your LIVING QUARTERS, wildlife control operators can determine how the bats are moving from the roost to your living area and exclude them from doing so. They can also close some of the bat's alternative exits as long as they leave the main exit open until August.
All bats in Kentucky are protected by state law, and there are no legal toxicants for bat control. The best method of control is "bat proofing" your home so that more bats will not use it in the future.
If the guano is located where there is no human activity, the best thing to do may be to leave it alone. Fresh and scattered guano can be cleaned up by simply using your broom or hose, but removing large accumulations of guano requires precautions. To protect yourself from being exposed to Histoplasma fungal spores, the guano should be sprayed with water to minimize dust, and you should use a respirator over your nose and mouth. Shovel the guano into plastic bags and double bags before removing. If you have a significant accumulation of guano (more than 2 inches deep), you may want to contact your local health department and/or hire a professional company that specializes in the removal of hazardous waste. Persons with known impaired immune systems are at greater risk for disease if exposed to Histoplasma and, therefore, should also consider getting an outside expert to clean up any areas.
Yes, but occupation success can vary due to many factors. It is recommended that you erect a bat house as early as one season before you evict your colony so that the bats can begin investigating the alternate site. The colony may then choose to occupy the bat house after they have been properly excluded from your home. Bat Conservation International is a great source of information on bat houses, including plans, installation, tips for success, etc.