Bats on a cave ceiling

Bats of Kentucky

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​​​​Bats of Kentucky


​Overview

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.


Rafinesque's Big-Eared Bat Illustration with id markers indicating anatomy points

Figure 1. Drawing by Rick Hill shows a Bat's wing anatomy labeled as follows:

  1. Upper Arm
  2. Elbow
  3. Forearm​​
  4. Wrist
  1. Thumb
  2. 2nd Finger
  3. 3rd Finger
  4. 4th Finger
  1. Wing Membrane
  2. 5th Finger
  3. Foot

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.


Additional Resources

  • Common Myths about Bats
  • Bats and Homeowners FAQ
  • Bats and Human Health
  • Diseases in Bats

Bat Behavior

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

​Rafinesque's Big-Eared Bat


Kentucky’s Bat Species

Sixteen species of bats have been documented in Kentucky. Fourteen of which 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.​​​​

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Common Myths about Bats

Big-Eared Bat illustration

Bats Are Flying Rodents​​

FACT:  Bats are actually more closely related to primates than rodents.  They are generally lon​g-lived and most only have one young per year.​

Bats Are B​lind​​

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.

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Bat Diseases

White Nose Syndrome (WNS)

White-nose syndrome (WNS) is a devastating disease found in North America that is caused by a “cold-loving” fungus. This white fungus grows on hairless skin tissue like the bat’s muzzle, hence the name “white-nose”. It has caused unprecedented mortality in some of our hibernating bat species, especially in the northeastern U.S where it was first discovered. April 2011 is when the disease was first documented in Kentucky. It is now found in caves across the state and is believed to be responsible for significant local population declines for some species such as little brown bats. For more detailed information, decontamination procedures, map showing the spread of the disease, etc. go to http://whitenosesyndrome.org.

Rabies and Histoplasmosis

For information on rabies and histoplasmosis, see "Do bats pose a human health concern?"

Injured or Sick Bats

If you have found an injured or sick bat, please ensure no children, pets or other animals can come into contact with it. Due to WNS, we are tracking reports of bats through our Report a Bat form.

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, you can then find a tree to place the bat on without handling it. If the bat is still there after 24 hours, please use the Report a Bat Form.

Bats as Pets

In many cases, a bat removed from the wild does not live long. Not only is the practice detrimental to the bat, holding bats in captivity is against the law. 301 KAR 2:081​ prohibits holding native bats as pets.

Collecting Permits

The Scientific and Educational Collecting Permit authorizes the collecting and holding, even temporarily, of wildlife for zoological, educational or scientific purposes.  Go to the Scientific and Educational Collecting page for more information and to download the application.​​​​​​​​​​

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​​​​​​​​​Frequently Asked Questions​: Bats and Homeowners

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 during the summer, you likely have what is known as a maternity or nursery colony, 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. Sometimes, people can live in harmony with bats year after year. However, having bats flying in your living quarters (e.g., bedroom, den, etc.) is undesirable. Many homeowners become aware of bats in their homes in June and July. It is during this time that juveniles are learning to fly and get around and may accidentally enter your living quarters.

I discovered bats living i​​n my attic, chimney, etc. What should I do?  

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 Nuisance 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: