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Hoary Bat 
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Scientific name: Lasiurus cinereus.
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Weight:
17-35 grams.
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Wingspan: 38-41 centimeters.
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Distribution: The
most widespread bat in the Americas, occurring through most of Canada and
southward through most of South America. It also occurs in Hawaii,
Iceland, Bermuda, and the Dominican Republic.
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Ecology and Behavior:
These are large, heavily furred bats. They spend summer days concealed in
the foliage of trees, where they choose a leafy site well-covered above,
but open from beneath, generally 3-5 meters above the ground, and usually
at the edge of a clearing. In late summer, they may wander into caves,
many never find their way out. Because they rarely enter houses, spend the
daylight hours concealed, and generally are rare, these bats are seldom
encountered by humans. Northern populations make long seasonal migrations
to and from warmer winter habitats. The sexes are apparently segregated
through most of the summer range; males are rare in the eastern and
central United States at this time. Hoary bats may fly during the late
afternoon on warm days in winter. Their swift and direct pattern and large
size make them readily identifiable on the wing in most parts of their
range.
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Food Habits: Moths, true bugs, mosquitoes, other insects,
and occasionally other bats may be captured as food.
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Reproduction:
Hoary bats bear two young in mid-May, June, or early July. The young cling
to the mother throughout the day, but are left clinging to a twig or leaf
while she forages at night.
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Status of Populations: Common in the
northern and western parts of its range in North America, but uncommon in
most of the eastern United States.
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