The Eastern Red Bat (
Lasiurus borealis) is one of only a few bats that are migratory and do not hibernate through the winter. Instead they do what many birds do, and that is fly south to warmer areas where flying insects are still plentiful. They are also different from most other bats in that they do not roost in colonies but rather individually, usually preferring cavities or branches of hardwood trees. I found this female Monday hanging from the branch of a honeysuckle bush.
Adult males have a bright reddish-orange coats, whereas females and juveniles have grayish-brown coats with red around the upper body and head. They are not easily confused with other bats other than the Seminole Bat, which is common in the deep south but absent from Kentucky. A defining characteristic of the Red Bat is the white patch on the shoulder which can be seen in the picture below.
11:18 AM
Ryan Ankeny
