13 bats that can be found in Florida

Hoary Bat (Lasiurus cinereus)Hoary bats are the largest of the tree bats, and Florida’s second largest bat, weighing between 20 and 35 grams. Their fur is generally black to gray with heavy frosting, and an orange to yellow disc around their face, tapering onto the top of the head. Hoary bats are long-distance migrants and bats from more northern states will migrate south to locations such as Florida during the winter months. [PHOTO BY Paul Cryan, U.S. Geological Survey]

Gray Bat (Myotis grisescens)Gray bats weight between 8 and 10 grams and have uniform gray-colored fur covering the back and belly. The gray bat is a federally endangered bat that is a cave specialist, roosting only in cave systems. The grey bat has a very restricted range in Florida, only occurring in a single county in the northwest panhandle, and populations appear to be declining. Gray bats mate at the mouth of caves in the fall and enter caves shortly after to hibernate throughout the winter. Females delay fertilization until spring, like many other bats in the genusMyotis. Female gray bats give birth to 1 pup per year, generally in late May. In Florida, gray bat maternity colonies are known to occur alongside maternity colonies of Southeastern myotis.[PHOTO BY CODY JORDAN VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS]

Brazilian (Mexican) Free-tailed Bat (Tadarida brasiliensis)

Florida Bonneted Bat (Eumops floridanus)Florida’s largest bat and thought to be the rarest bat in the world, the Florida bonneted bat weighs between 34 and 47 grams. The Florida bonneted bat can be distinguished from other bats by its large size, tail that extends past the uropatgium (tail membrane), and ears that join at the base. Female Florida bonneted bats will give birth to at least 1 pup per year, but evidence suggests that they may give birth multiple times each year. The Florida bonneted bat was recognized as a distinct species in 2004, and listed as “Endangered” under the USFWS Endangered Species Act in 2013. [PHOTO BY ENWEBB VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS]

(Uncommon) Velvety Free-tailed Bat (Molossus molossus)[PHOTO BY in Alcide Dessalines d'Orbigny VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS]

Evening Bat (Nycticeius humeralis)Evening bats are common throughout Florida, except in the keys. Evening bats will form colonies of several to about eighty bats, and have been found in buildings and other man-made structures. The evening bat is very similar in appearance to the big brown bat, only it is smaller in size. The evening bat has brown fur on the back and whitish/ paler fur on the belly. Like the big brown bat, it also has a “dog-like” muzzle. Female evening bats give birth to 2 to 3 pups in late April or May. [PHOTO VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS]

Rafinesque’s Big-eared Bat (Corynorhinus rafinesquii)The Rafinesque’s big-eared bat is an elusive bat with distinctive ears that distinguish them apart from other bats in Florida. The Rafinesque’s big-eared bat weighs between 7 and 13 grams and has gray to brown fur on their back with white fur on their belly. Adult Rafinesque's big-eared bat rests on a cave wall. Bats are one of nature’s many pollinators for flowers and crops and are crucial in production for fruits and vegetables. USDA photo by Forest Service.

Eastern Red Bat (Lasiurus borealis)The Eastern red bat is a common bat of the eastern US and occurs throughout the northern half of Florida. Eastern red bats are known as tree bats because they primarily use trees as roost sites. Eastern red bats are also known to be long-distance migrants and bats from more northern states will migrate south to locations such as Florida during the winter months. Female Eastern red bats will give birth to 1 to 4 pups each year in late May or early June. Eastern red bats weigh between 8 and 16 grams and are generally bright red/ rust-colored, with frosted tips to the fur, though females are generally duller in overall color. [PHOTO BY USGS]

Big Brown Bat (Eptesicus fuscus)Big brown bats weigh between 11 and 25 grams, and have long, wavy brown fur and a “dog-like” muzzle. Female big brown bats will give birth to 2 pups from May to mid-June. Big brown bats are known to roost in buildings, bridges, and bat houses, but will also roost in tree cavities. Generally, big brown bat colonies include several to 70 individuals. Photo courtesy of Bat Conservation International and Minden Pictures.

Seminole Bat (Lasiurus seminolus) [PHOTO BY US DEPT OF AGRICULTURE]

Southeastern Myotis (Myotis austroriparius)A medium-sized bat, the Southeastern myotis weighs 5 to 12 grams and has gray to brown dorsal fur with yellowish to white fur on the belly. The Southeastern myotis generally forms colonies in caves, but colonies have been discovered in hollow trees, bat houses, buildings, bridges, and culverts. In the northwest panhandle of Florida, Southeastern myotis mate in the fall, and females delay fertilization until the spring. In early May, female Southeastern myotis give birth to 2 pups, rare among bats in the genusMyotis. Southeastern myotis are not known to experience extended torpor, a physiological state in which the bat slows its metabolism and suppresses its immune system to conserve energy, in Florida, but individuals in the northwest panhandle have been documented using short-duration torpor during colder days in the winter. [PHOTO BY Pete Pattavina, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service]