Bats of the Midwest

The Midwest is home to 14 resident bat species plus two non-resident species that have been observed in the region. Most are in the family Vespertilionidae, with only the non-resident Mexican free-tailed bats in the family Molossidae. Eight species are considered a species of concern, near threatened, vulnerable, or endangered by either the IUCN or USFWS. All bats in the Midwest are insectivorous. Some, like the eastern red bat, roost solitarily in foliage; others, like the evening bat, roost in groups in tree cavities and crevices; and even more, like the big brown bat, roost in structures like bridges and buildings. Most Midwestern bat species hibernate for some portion of the winter, generally in caves, but sometimes in mines or buildings as well. The largest known aggregations of bats in the Midwest are winter colonies of mainly Indiana bats hibernating in limestone and silica mines in Missouri and Illinois, respectively. The largest bat in the Midwest is the hoary bat with an adult body length of 5–6 inches (body mass 20–35 grams); the smallest is the eastern small-footed bat, which is only 3–3.4 inches long (body mass 3.5–6 grams).

Click on the images below to learn more about each species!