Little Brown Bats in Salina
True to their name, little brown bats are tiny, weighing less than half an ounce. One of the smallest types of bats, they’re fairly common in Salina and surrounding areas. They are not territorial and tend to live in roosts of thousands. Little brown bats use echolocation to seek out their insect prey.
Little Brown Bat Habitat
Little brown bats can migrate hundreds of miles to travel from summer habitats to their hibernaculum, which is the name for the roost they occupy during the winter months. They tend to choose caves, trees, rocks, and woodpiles as roost sites, but they will also occasionally choose buildings. This creates a potentially dangerous situation if you live in a home in a suburban area.
Little Brown Bat Behaviors, Threats, or Dangers
Little brown bats feed on insects. Their echolocation is similar to sonar on ships and can tell them the location and size of their prey. Amazingly, they need to eat at least half their body weight in insects every night to prevent becoming malnourished. They’re nocturnal and peak hours of activity is after dusk. Little brown bats can spread diseases including rabies to animals and humans. They aren’t aggressive but will bite if handled. If you notice a bat has made its way into your building, never approach it or attempt to handle it yourself. Always call a professional wildlife control company.
