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Evening Bat
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Scientific name: Nycticeius humeralis.
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Weight: 7-14 grams.
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Wingspan: 26-28 centimeters. Distribution:
Southern Ontario, Canada, most of the eastern United States, and
northeastern Mexico.
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Ecology and Behavior: This species usually
inhabits buildings or tree cavities in summer. It almost never enters
caves, although it sometimes joins the bats swarming about certain
entrances in late summer. Maternity colonies in buildings sometimes
contain hundreds of individuals. Smaller colonies may occur behind the
loose bark of dead pines and in hollow cypress trees. Winter habitat is
almost completely unknown, but evening bats accumulate large reserves of
fat in autumn, sufficient for either hibernation or a long migration. This
species emerges early and flies a slow and steady course. Heavy rain and
cold temperatures retard activity, and females nursing young return to the
roost periodically to care for their offspring.
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Food Habits:
Probably consumes a variety of insects.
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Reproduction: Young are
born in nursery colonies from mid-May to mid-June. The usual litter size
is two. As with most other species of bats, birth is by breech
presentation. After the young are born, they grasp a nipple within 5-8
minutes. Newborns are pink, except for slightly darker feet, membranes,
ears, and lips; their skin is so transparent that the viscera are visible.
Lifespan is greater than 5 years.
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Status of Populations: Uncommon
through most of its range, but one of the most common bats throughout the
southern coastal states.
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