Species · GBIF taxon 2432352
Big Brown Bat
Eptesicus fuscusAlso known as Common Brown Bat, House Bat
Big brown bats are robust, glossy-furred aerial insectivores that frequently roost in attics, barns, and hollow trees. They emerge at dusk, navigating with precise echolocation to hunt beetles, moths, and agricultural pests. During winter, these resilient mammals hibernate in caves, mines, or insulated human structures, often returning to the exact same roosts year after year.
NocturnalInsectivorousMammal
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Beetles
- Moths
- Flies
Predators
- Owls
- Hawks
- Domestic Cats
ThreatsWhite-nose syndrome, habitat loss, wind turbines, and human persecution
HabitatsForests, agricultural areas, suburban neighborhoods, and urban centers
Life spanUp to 19 years in the wild
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyVespertilionidae
- SpeciesEptesicus fuscus
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskModerate
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is moderate
- Can carry rabies and bite defensively; never handle bats without professional training and protective gear.
- Why it is dangerous
- Can transmit rabies through saliva from a bite or scratch, and will bite defensively if handled.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Identified by its large size, glossy copper-brown fur, broad nose, and black ears and wing membranes.
- What to do
- Never touch a bat with bare hands; contact animal control if one is found grounded or indoors.
Responsible observation
- Listen for clicks: Listen for their audible chattering and clicking sounds when they emerge from roosts at dusk.
- Watch the sky: Look up near streetlights or open water sources just after sunset to watch them hunt.
- Exclude safely: Use one-way exit devices to humanely remove them from attics during late summer.
Co-occurring Species 
Competitor (c) Jody Shugart, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Jody Shugart · cc-by
Close Relative "Little brown bat affected by White-nose Syndrome" by U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Northeast Region is marked with Public Domain Mark 1.0. To view the terms, visit https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/. · cc0
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