Where do bats live?
Bats can be found in almost all parts of the world and in most regions of the United States.
In general, bats seek out a variety of daytime retreats such as caves, rock crevices, old buildings, bridges, mines, and trees. Different species require different roost sites. Some species, such as the Mexican free-tailed and gray bats live in large colonies in caves. A few solitary species, such as the red bat, roost in trees.
In winter, bats either hibernate or migrate to warmer areas. Those that hibernate build up a fat reserve to sustain them through the winter. If they’re disturbed, their fat reserve could become exhausted and they could die prior to spring.
Learn more: USGS North American Bat Monitoring Program (NABat)
Related Content
Why are bats important?
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Are bats blind?
How are bats affected by wind turbines?
What should I do if I find dead or dying bats, or if I observe bats with signs of White-nose Syndrome?
Assessing the risks posed by SARS-CoV-2 in and via North American bats—Decision framing and rapid risk assessment
The novel β-coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, may pose a threat to North American bat populations if bats are exposed to the virus through interaction with humans, if the virus can subsequently infect bats and be transmitted among them, and if the virus causes morbidity or mortality in bats. Further, if SARS-CoV-2 became established in bat populations, it...
Runge, Michael C.; Campbell Grant, Evan H.; Coleman, Jeremy T. H.; Reichard, Jonathan D.; Gibbs, Samantha E. J.; Cryan, Paul M.; Olival, Kevin J.; Walsh, Daniel P.; Blehert, David S.; Hopkins, M. Camille; Sleeman, Jonathan M.
U.S. Geological Survey science in support of the North American Bat Monitoring Program (NABat)
Bats make up one-fifth of all mammalian species worldwide and are found on every continent except Antarctica. They contribute to overall ecosystem health by suppressing pest insects and pollinating plants and spreading seeds. Eight North American bat species are listed as federally endangered or threatened, and more than one-half are of current...
Reichert, Brian E.; Soileau, Suzanna C.
Species occurrence data for the nation
USGS Biodiversity Information Serving Our Nation (BISON) is a unique, web-based Federal mapping resource for species occurrence data in the United States and its Territories.BISON’s size is unprecedented, including records for most living species found in the United States and encompassing the efforts of more than a million professional and...
U.S. Geological Survey response to white-nose syndrome in bats
OverviewSince its discovery in 2007, the fungal disease known as white-nose syndrome (WNS) has killed more than six million bats. Ten of 47 bat species have been affected by WNS across 32 States and 5 Canadian Provinces. The cold-growing fungus (Pseudogymnoascus destructans) that causes WNS infects skin covering the muzzle, ears, and wings of...
Hopkins, M. Camille ; Soileau, Suzanna C.
A guide to processing bat acoustic data for the North American Bat Monitoring Program (NABat)
The North American Bat Monitoring Program (NABat) aims to improve the state of conservation science for all species of bats shared by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. To accomplish this goal, NABat offers guidance and standardized protocols for acoustic monitoring of bats. In this document, “A Guide to Processing Bat Acoustic Data for the...
Reichert, Brian E.; Lausen, Cori; Loeb, Susan; Weller, Ted; Allen, Ryan; Britzke, Eric; Hohoff, Tara; Siemers, Jeremy; Burkholder, Braden; Herzog, Carl; Verant, Michelle
White-nose syndrome in North American bats - U.S. Geological Survey updates
White-nose syndrome is a devastating wildlife disease that has killed millions of hibernating bats. This disease first appeared in New York during 2007 and has continued to spread at an alarming rate from the northeastern to the central United States and throughout eastern Canada. The disease is named for the fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans,...
Lankau, Emily W.; Moede Rogall, Gail
Bat Rabies and Other Lyssavirus Infections
Bat Rabies and Other Lyssavirus Infections offers readers an overview of the virus variants that cause bat rabies, and geographical patterns in occurrence of this disease. The section Species Susceptibility describes infection rates and trends among bats, humans, and other animals. Disease Ecology considers the biological and environmental...
Constantine, Denny G.; Blehert, David S.
New Species Habitat Distribution Maps Now Support Conservation Planning at a National Scale
A new dataset of habitat distribution for terrestrial vertebrate species in the conterminous United States is now available from the USGS.
Deadly Fungus Affecting Hibernating Bats Could Spread During Summer
The cold-loving fungus (Pseudogymnoascus destructans, or Pd) that causes white-nose syndrome, a disease that has killed millions of North American bats during hibernation, could also spread in summer months. Bats and humans visiting contaminated caves and mines can inadvertently contribute to the spread of the fungus, according to a recently published study by the U.S. Geological Survey.
A Deadly Double Punch: Together, Turbines and Disease Jeopardize Endangered Bats
PubTalk 09/2019 — Bats in the West
Title: Bats in the West: Discoveries, Questions, and Future Research
By Gabriel A. Reyes, USGS Biologist
- Learn about bat ecology, diversity, and the role they play in our ecosystem.
- See how scientists are using a variety of methods including capture, acoustic monitoring, and tracking, to learn more about local bat species.
- Find out how
Clustered southeastern bats
This photo shows clustered southeastern bats, or Myotis austroriparius. As of June 2017, the species joins eight other hibernating bat species in North America that are afflicted with the deadly bat fungal disease known as white-nose syndrome.
Hibernating little brown bat
A little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus) with white-nose syndrome hibernating in a Virginia cave during late spring of 2016. Patches of the fungus that causes white-nose syndrome can be seen growing out of the skin (white areas) near the nose and across the folded wing skin of this bat. Spherical drops of water condensation coat the bat's outer fur, a
...
Western red bat release
Like most wild animals, bats often don't appreciate being handled for research purposes. However when holding bats after handling and examination, they often appreciate the warmth and need a little push to go. This Western red bat (Lasiurus blossevillii) was captured during USGS WERC research to learn more about the ecology, distribution, and movement patterns of
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Scientists collecting bat location data
Recorded Bat Calls: Recorded 'echolocation' calls are later evaluated by computer programs and visual inspection to ascribe bat species identities.
An Arizona bat or Occult bat (Myotis occultus) roost from southern CO
An Arizona bat or Occult bat (Myotis occultus) roost from southern Colorado.
A map of bat diversity in the U.S.
A map of bat diversity in the U.S. Map by Paul Cryan, USGS.
Hibernating bat map of the U.S.
A map showing the areas that hibernating species of bats live in in the U.S. Map by Paul Cryan, USGS.
Non-hibernating species of bats map of the U.S.
A map showing the areas that non-hibernating species of bats live in in the U.S.
Colony of bats.
Bats benefit from maintaining a close-knit roosting group because they increase reproductive success and it is important for rearing pups.
Bat emergence, Paul Cryan, USGS photo.
Bats emerging from the trees in the early evening sky.
Bat Thermal Video
Imagery from temperature-sensing cameras showing bats in hibernation. This new footage suggests that bats who warm up from hibernation together throughout the winter may be better at surviving white nose syndrome, a disease caused by a cold-loving fungus ravaging insect-eating bat populations in the United States and Canada. Locations: Gap Cave,125 Cumberland Gap National