Living amongst very small Bats (they are oh so tiny).
In Florida, there are 13 native bat species, and 7 “accidental” species that only have a few records of occurrence in the northern or southern extremes of the state (Marks and Marks 2006). Bats are ecologically and economically beneficial. They serve critical roles worldwide as insect pest controllers, pollinators, seed-dispersers and fertilizers. Learn more about bats at the FWC Bat Species Profile.
Florida’s bats are insectivorous, meaning they eat insects, including beetles, mosquitoes, moths and other agriculture and garden pests. A single bat can eat hundreds of insects in a night!
Florida’s bats are facing many challenges, including loss of natural roosting sites in trees and caves. Outside of Florida, a disease called white-nose syndrome (WNS) has also killed millions of cave-roosting bats and is spreading rapidly. As of early 2018, WNS has not reached Florida, but it remains a serious threat.
Although bats are facing these challenges, there are things people can do to help.
How You Can Help Bats Thrive in Florida
- Spread the word that bats help people by eating large amounts of mosquitoes and agricultural pests.
- Preserve natural roost sites such as trees with cavities and peeling bark, and dead fronds on palms.
- Put up a bat house.
- Report unusual bat behavior.
- Do not enter Florida caves with shoes, clothing or equipment that has been used in caves outside of Florida.
Bats are beneficial mammals that are of little threat to people. Rabies, a virus usually transmitted from a bite, affects a very small portion of bats — perhaps only one among every few hundred bats across all of the bat populations in Florida. However, people should not handle bats, whether they are sick, injured or dead. For more information about bats and disease, including what to do if a person makes contact with a bat, contact your county health department, the Florida Department of Health, or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
It is illegal to kill bats in Florida in accordance with Florida Administrative Code rule 68A-4.001 General Prohibitions. Since bats are particularly vulnerable to disturbance and harm when they are roosting in buildings and other man-made structures, protections for bats in structures are also included in rule 68A-9.010 Taking Nuisance Wildlife. This rule does not allow the use of pesticides or poisons for the purpose of harming, killing, or deterring bats. This nuisance wildlife rule also states the minimum requirements that need to be followed if someone is going to remove bats from buildings and other structures. If you think you have a bat or bat colony roosting in your home or other structure, learn more about what you can do by visiting the Bats in Buildings web page.
Need more information?
Download the "Living with Bats" brochure.
More About Bats
Bats in Florida are mainly insectivorous and locate their prey using echolocation, a method of using sound waves to navigate and locate food. Many of Florida’s bat species roost colonially and colonies can range from a few bats to many thousands. However, several of Florida’s bat species are solitary roosters and prefer to sleep alone. The most important natural roost site for bats in Florida are trees with cavities, trees with peeling bark, palms, and caves.
Vespertillionidae
Tricolored Bat (Perimyotis subflavus)SGCN+
Southeastern Myotis (Myotis austroriparius)SGCN +
Gray Bat (Myotis grisescens)SGCN endangered
Rafinesque’s Big-eared Bat (Corynorhinus rafinesquii) SGCN +
Big Brown Bat (Eptesicus fuscus) SGCN +
Evening Bat (Nycticeius humeralis) +
Eastern Red Bat (Lasiurus borealis) SGCN
Seminole Bat (Lasiurus seminolus) SGCN
Northern Yellow Bat (Lasiurus intermedius) SGCN
Hoary Bat (Lasiurus cinereus)SGCN
Molossidae
Bats in this family are known as “free-tailed” bats. The bats tail extends past the uropatagium, the membrane surrounding the bats tail. There are approximately 85 species of bats in this family world-wide, and they all consume insects.
Brazilian (Mexican) Free-tailed Bat (Tadarida brasiliensis) SGCN +
Velvety Free-tailed Bat (Molossus molossus) +
Florida Bonneted Bat (Eumops floridanus) SGCN endangered +
SGCN: Species of Greatest Conservation Need in Florida
endangered: Federally Endangered
+: Known to use bat houses and/or human structures for roosting
White-nose Syndrome
White-nose syndrome (WNS) is named for the white fungus that appears on the muzzle and other areas of exposed skin of hibernating bats.
What Diseases Effect Humans?
Rabies
Although bats are rabies vectors, raccoons and foxes have a higher incidence of rabies than bats do. Still, many people fear bats more as a rabies vector, and the primary reason is because of misinformation or a lack of knowledge about bats.
Histoplasmosis
Inhaling histoplasmosis spores can cause an infection in the lungs. However many people that do inhale its spores do not get sick.
Single bats in Garages and Sheds - Single bats may be found roosting in garages, barns, sheds and porches. Single roosting bats are not a cause for alarm and do not mean that a colonial roost is about to form. Tricolored bats and Rafinesque’s big eared bats will use areas that are more exposed than other species, hanging in semi-dark areas of unused sheds or abandoned buildings. Tricolored bats also will occasionally fly into open garages. In these instances it is best to just allow these bats to leave on their own, since garages are typically not good roosting sites.
Bats using patio umbrellas - Evening bats have been known to use the folds of closed patio umbrellas. Outside of the maternity season, this is easily remedied by opening the umbrella after dark when bats have flown and then keeping the umbrella open. This makes the roost site unsuitable. Then secure the bottom to prevent bats from entering, or put the umbrella away and put it outdoors only when it will be opened. During bat maternity season, check for pups in the umbrella after the adult bats have flown. If no pups are present, then you can proceed as above for non-maternity season. If pups are present, then the umbrella should be left alone. Check in the umbrella again during mid-August and if no pups are present after dark, you can proceed as mentioned earlier.
Bats using picnic pavilions -Bats will use picnic pavilions when forming maternity colonies. Generally, bats will inhabit the rafters of the pavilion, where temperatures are increased and air flow is limited. If a maternity colony exists, a pile of guano will appear below the location of the colony. This can be concerning if guano is collecting on picnic benches or tables. However bats are not to be disturbed during the maternity season from April 15 to August 15. Any attempt to exclude bats must be completed outside of this time period.
Bats in stadiums - Sports stadiums can provide a stable temperature environment for bats. Bats have been found roosting in cracks and joints between the concrete along ramps and stadium walls. Sometimes, maternity colonies will form in stadiums. Bats are not to be disturbed during the maternity season from April 15 – August 15. Any attempt to exclude bats must be completed outside of this time period.
Conservation Groups
Bat Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, bats are mammals, as they are warm-blooded, give live birth, produce milk, and have fur. Bats have many unique features that truly set them apart from most other mammals, such as the ability to fly and use echolocation to navigate and find food at night.
No, bats are not blind. In fact, most bats can see very well. Coupled with a specialized honing sense called echolocation, they are fierce predators of insects.
Most bats in Florida are small, with body lengths of 2 to 3 inches, and with wing spans ranging from 8 to 15 inches. For example, it would take 10 tricolored bats, Florida’s smallest bat, to equal the weight of 1 large chicken egg. While individuals of Florida’s largest bat, the Florida bonneted bat, would each weigh slightly less than a large chicken egg.
All bats in Florida are nocturnal, which means they are active at night. They are easily seen at dusk or at night while foraging for insects. While it is uncommon to see a bat during the day, it is not unusual to hear them chirping within the roost.
Most small mammals have very short lives (often only 1 year), but bats are the exception and have relatively long lives. One study showed that bats live on average about 4 years, while another study showed bats may live about 16 years on average. The maximum lifespan reported for bats in the wild is more than 30 years. But, we know lifespans of bats vary depending on the species and their life history. For example, bats that roost (sleep) in caves tend to live longer than bats that roost in trees. Bats that have more than one pup per litter tend to have shorter average lifespans than those with only one pup per litter.
Bats can live anywhere from 4 to 30 years in the wild. However, since 2006, when the devastating white-nose syndrome (WNS) was first detected in the U.S., this disease has caused millions of bats to perish. Because bats have a slow rate of reproduction (only 1-4 pups per year), it will take many generations before those populations can recover to previous WNS levels, if the effects of the disease can be overcome.
Most bats in Florida reproduce once per year during the summer maternity season, between April 15-August 15. However, the Florida bonneted bat, which occurs only in south Florida, is known to reproduce almost year-round.
Most bats give birth to only 1-2 pups per year. Hhowever, some species such as the Seminole bat and yellow bat can give birth to 3-4 pups per year. Due to these slow rates of reproduction, it can take many years for bats to recover from severe population declines such from the devastating disease called white-nose syndrome (WNS), which has killed millions of bats since 2006.
There are 13 resident bat species in the state, and 7 additional species that are considered accidental or occasional visitors. Two of the resident species, the Florida bonneted bat and the gray myotis, are listed as Endangered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Bats are found everywhere in Florida, but some species only live in certain regions such as the Keys or the Panhandle. Florida bats roost (sleep) in a variety of locations and structures, including in tree cavities, under bark, within bridges and buildings, and in caves.
Bats are either solitary, meaning they prefer to sleep alone, or they roost in colonies, which means they prefer to sleep in groups. Solitary bats tend to roost under palm fronds or in tree cavities, or sometimes even in Spanish moss. Colony roosting bats also may use tree cavities, but some of those species tend to use caves, bridges, or buildings. The size of a colony can range from a few individuals to hundreds of thousands of bats, and varies by species, location, season, and roost type.
Most bats in Florida use multiple roosts in a single year. In some species, bats inhabit seasonal roosts that are used for breeding or hibernation. If the conditions are favorable, bats may return to those same roosts year after year.
All of the resident bats in Florida eat insects. Most bats are opportunistic feeders, meaning, they will consume food that is readily available. It is estimated that bats save the U.S. billions of dollars each year by consuming agriculture pests and insects that spread disease and damage crops.
While larger bats tend to eat larger insect prey and smaller bats consume smaller insects, it is estimated that mosquitos make up 1 percent of a bat’s diet. But multiplied by an entire region, bats easily consume thousands of mosquitos in one night.
Throughout the world, bats provide many ecological services such as pollination, seed dispersal, and insect removal. In the U.S., bats play a vital role in insect control such as reduction of harmful agriculture pests and those that spread disease.
Bats may inhabit buildings and man-made structures due to loss of habitat and natural roosts. There are several ways to tell if bats are present in your home or building. If you cannot see the bats, listen for chirping during the day and look for small droppings (guano) on the floor and staining around entrances. You can also look for bats flying out of the building at dusk, which is when they typically emerge from their roost.
If bats are found within your home or building and you wish to remove those bats, you must safely exclude them without harming them using FWC approved techniques. Bats in Florida are protected year-round, and therefore it is illegal to harm or kill them. It is important to note that during the maternity season when flightless young are present (April 15 – August 15), bats may not be excluded without a permit. This is to prevent the death of young bats and help conserve this critical species. Contact your local FWC office for more information on living with bats.
If a single bat is found within your home or building, then follow the steps listed on the FWC website to safely remove it. Remember to use care when removing a bat. Finding one bat in a home usually is not a sign that a colony is present. However, if a colony was present and all of the entry points were sealed with bats still inside, then bats can end up within the home as they try to find another exit.
If you suspect that bats reside in your home, you should first confirm their presence and the primary entry points into the building. Second, determine if it is maternity season (April 15 – August 15), as a permit is required to conduct an exclusion during this time period. Then, follow the required FWC exclusion techniques or hire a professional who will follow those techniques to exclude bats from your building. The exclusion should take place when temperatures are at a minimum of 50°F, for 4 to 7 consecutive nights. Openings used by the bats must be properly sealed immediately after the exclusion to prevent bats from returning to the building. For more information on bat exclusion and resources, contact your local FWC office.
Bats are known carriers of rabies. However, according to the U.S. Center for Disease Control only 6 percent of bats that are submitted actually test positive for rabies. In healthy populations, the presence of rabies in a typically much lower (1 to 4 percent). To prevent exposure to the disease, do not try to handle bats. Bats are not aggressive, but will bite if they feel threatened. If you or anyone, including pets, are bitten, scratched, or make contact with a bat, seek immediate medical attention. Rabies can be treated, but may be fatal if not treated quickly.
Since 2006, over 5.7 million bats have died due to a fungal infection referred to as white-nose syndrome (WNS). While it does not affect humans, this rapidly spreading disease is fatal to bats and is considered a major threat to bats in the U.S. As of mid-year 2016, WNS has not been detected in Florida. It is important that people help protect bats by learning more about WNS and the ways to prevent the spread of the disease, including avoiding entering caves used for bat hibernation and decontaminate clothing and all gear if bat caves are entered. Additional opportunities to help bats can be found at WhiteNoseSyndrome.org.
There are many ways that you can help conserve bats. You can help by installing a bat house, avoid disturbing bats during hibernation and maternity seasons, follow decontamination procedures to prevent the spread of WNS, and preserve natural roosts such as cavity trees.
Bat houses are often used by bats that prefer mature or dead trees. While it may take months or years for bats to move in, the best strategy is to have a well-designed house that is placed in a good location. Follow these links below or contact your local FWC office for more information on how to build, purchase, and establish bat houses.
You can contact your local FWC office or explore the websites below to learn more about bats in Florida.
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