Mammal
Eastern Red Bat
Lasiurus borealisAlso known as Red Bat, Northern Red Bat
Eastern red bats are solitary foliage-roosting mammals whose warm rusty red fur mimics dead leaves while hanging motionless from tree branches during the day. Unlike cave-dwelling bats, these forest occupants migrate south or shelter beneath deep leaf litter on frigid winter days. Females frequently give birth to twins or quadruplets in early summer, clinging to twigs with one foot while nursing their heavy litters.
NocturnalMigratoryInsectivorous
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyMoths, Beetles, Flies
Predators
- Blue Jays
- Great Horned Owls
- Opossums
ThreatsWind turbines, habitat loss, pesticides, roost clearance
HabitatsDeciduous and mixed forests, orchards, suburban parks
Life span5–12 years
Classification
- OrderChiroptera
- FamilyVespertilionidae
- GenusLasiurus
- SpeciesLasiurus borealis
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskModerate
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is moderate
- Can carry rabies and bite defensively if handled; observe grounded individuals from a safe distance.
- Why it is dangerous
- Capable of transmitting rabies virus through saliva or defensive bites when cornered or mishandled.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Recognizable by bright reddish-orange coat with frosted tips and a fully furred tail membrane.
- What to do
- Never touch or pick up a grounded bat with bare hands; use a box to isolate it if rescue is necessary.
Responsible observation
- Spotting Roosts: Scan deciduous tree foliage on sunny summer afternoons for bright reddish bundles that look like dead leaves.
- Evening Flights: Watch open fields or streetlights at dusk as bats forage for moths with swift, acrobatic dives.
- Grounded Bats: Leave grounded bats undisturbed and keep pets away while contacting a local licensed wildlife rehabilitator.
Co-migrator no rights reserved · cc0
Predator "Great Horned Owl, the first I've seen in decent light this year. Didn't want to disturb it for too long so we continued along the trail" by island deborah- is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/. · cc-by-sa
Prey (c) Trevor Van Loon, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Trevor Van Loon · cc-by
Close Relative Photographer: Paul Cryan, U.S. Geological Survey / Public domain · cc0
Close Relative (c) U.S. Department of Agriculture, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
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