Tag Archives: Big Brown Bat

The Difference Between Big Brown Bats and Little Brown Bats

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Two of the most common microbats found in the surrounding Indiana regions are the Little Brown bat and the Big Brown bat. Although they share sister names, they are quite different from one another in terms of biology. Continue reading to learn some fun and informative facts about both species of microbat, as well as, what you should do if you ever find a bat in the house or other area of your property.

Bat Removal and Control 317-535-4605
Big Brown Bat

Big Brown Bat

The Big Brown bat may look like the Little Brown bat, but they are a different species, and just a tad larger, as the names implies. Adult bats have an average wingspan of 13 to 16 inches, and a body length of 3 1/2 to 5 1/2 inches. They are a little bigger as you can see! The rest of their biology and behaviors are the same, with just slight differences.

Their fur is the same as Little Brown bats, ranging in colors from dark browns to reddish hues and lighter-colored bellies. Gestation periods and breeding are the same for both species, as well. Females carry their young for 60 days, before giving birth to a single bat pup each year.

Mating season usually begins in early fall, while birthing season starts in May and continues through June. After 14 days in their mother’s care, bat pups are weaned from milk and taught to fly and hunt for insects. In contrast to Little Brown bats, Big Brown bats tend to roost in smaller colonies, ranging from as little as 20 bats, up to 500 or more.

Little Brown Bat

Adult Little Brown bats have an average wingspan of 9 to 11 inches, and a body length of 2 1/2 to 4 inches. They are small! Their fur ranges in colors of dark browns to reddish browns, with lighter-colored, pale tan bellies. Females carry their young for 60 days, before giving birth to a single bat pup each year. Mating season usually begins in early fall, while birthing season starts in May and continues through July.

After 14 days in their mother’s care, bat pups are weaned from milk and taught to fly and hunt for insects. Little Brown bats, like all bats, are nocturnal, which means they are active from dusk until dawn. Generally, this bat species remain in large numbers, with colonies reaching hundreds or even thousands of bats in some regions.

Typically, Little Brown bats roost in hollowed tree cavities, abandoned mines, caves, log piles, and similar private areas. They are a hibernating species, so in winter, they either migrate to winter roosts, or hibernate in caves, rock crevices, storm sewers, and if they can access them, our attics!

As insectivores, Little Brown bats hunt for mosquitoes, gnats, moths, crane flies, beetles, mayflies, and other small flying insects. A single bat can consume more than 1,000 flying bugs in just one night! That is excellent pest control, and it’s free!

Indianapolis Bat Control Assistance

Call 317-535-4605 for safe bat removal services in Indianapolis, Indiana and its surrounding counties. We are DNR licensed wildlife rescue and control professionals who specialize in a wide range of non-lethal residential and commercial bat abatement services. We only use safe and humane methods to extract bats and prevent their return, and offer the most competitive prices in town. Request a free estimate, today.

Indiana Bat Removal 317-535-4605
Indiana Bat Removal 317-535-4605

The 3 Species of Nuisance Bat in Indiana

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Here in Indiana, there are many species of nuisance wildlife. But when it comes to bats, they are at the top of the list. Bats are highly destructive to houses and buildings, and pose many health hazards as common carriers of several infectious diseases. There are three species of bat that are the most common nuisance bats found in Indiana, so if you have bats in the attic or house, it is likely one of these three species.

Continue reading to learn more about each species of bat native to Indiana, and how to safely get rid of them.

Indianapolis Bat Removal and Control 317-535-4605
Little Brown Bat (Myotis lucifugus)

Big Brown Bat

The Big Brown Bat is a member of the fuscus species, and most native to North America, the Caribbean, and even parts of Central America. As medium-sized bats, they grow up to 13 centimeters in length, and can weight up to 16 grams. Like the Little brown bat, they are also nocturnal, echolocating, and insectivorous. They roost during the day, usually in hollow trees, and hunt for insects at night. They are known as a nuisance bat in some areas, commonly taking refuge in residential and commercial structures like sheds, attics, crawl spaces, and more.

Little Brown Bat

The little brown bats are among the most common bats found in North America. They are covered in shiny brown, sleek-looking fir, with a lighter patch of fir on their bellies. They are usually around 3 to 3 ½ inches in length, and weigh only a fraction of an ounce. Although small, their average wingspan is more than double their body length, generally between 6 and 8 inches. They can live up to 30 years or more, average between 20 and 30 years specifically.

Breeding season is generally around September and October, but females actually store the male sperm for springtime fertilization, making baby bats born in the summer. Gestation is generally 50 to 60 days, and once born, sexual maturity is reached between 6 and 8 months. Females generally give birth to just one bat pup a year, but sometimes two.

Mexican Free-Tailed Bat

Mexican Free-Tailed bats are sometimes known as Brazilian Free-Tail bats, but also called Guano bats, because they produce large amounts of droppings. They are also incredibly fast at flying, reaching up to 99 miles per hour! In fact, they are now proven to be the fasted flying animal in the world, being 30 miles per hour faster than the fastest bird! Furthermore, they can fly higher than any other bat, at extremely high altitudes up to 10,000 feet. No other animal or human can survive this altitude because of the lack of oxygen!

As for their name, it is derived from their free-hanging tail that extends beyond their tail membranes. And they also have wrinkled lips, distinctive to their particular genus. When it comes to being a nuisance, Mexican Free-Tailed bats might be the most destructive since they form the largest colonies out of all other warm-blooded species. If you have an infestation of these in your attic, it can be a long and expensive renovation.

Non-Lethal Indiana Bat Removal and Control

If you have nuisance bats, call 317-535-4605 to speak with a friendly and knowledgeable wildlife abatement specialist about Indianapolis bat removal services and solutions. Don’t let bats damage your property and cost you thousands of dollars in renovations! Let our DNR licensed and insured bat removal specialists provide the workable solutions you need.

Indiana Bat Removal 317-535-4605
Indiana Bat Removal 317-535-4605

The 3 Primary North American Bats

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There are hundreds, possibly thousands, of species of bats all across the world. From large-winged, fruit eating bats like the Megachiroptera, to the tinier, insect eating, Echolocating bats like the Microchiroptera, bats come in all different shapes and forms. But in North America, there are 3 particular species of bat seen most often. These bat species include the Little Brown Bat, the Big Brown Bat, and the Mexican Free-Tailed Bat. Continue reading to learn some fun and interesting details about each bat species, and who to call if your home is bothered by nuisance bats.

Little Brown Bat

“Myotis lucifugus”

The Little Brown bat is a member of the “mouse-eared” bat species, Myotis. This is why they are also referred to as the Little Brown Myotis. They are one of the most common species of bat in North America. Their fur is brown, as the name suggests, with dark grey underbellies. Their length average is between 6 to 10 centimeters, and they can weight up to 14 grams.

They are often confused for the Indiana Brown Bat, but can be easily distinguished by the absence of a keel on the calcar and long-haired hind feet. They are nocturnal, use echolocation to hunt and navigate in the dark, and primarily eat insects, like mosquitoes.

Big Brown Bat

“Eptesicus fuscus”

The Big Brown Bat is a member of the fuscus species, and most native to North America, the Caribbean, and even parts of Central America. As medium-sized bats, they grow up to 13 centimeters in length, and can weight up to 16 grams. Like the Little brown bat, they are also nocturnal, echolocating, and insectivorous.

They roost during the day, usually in hollow trees, and hunt for insects at night. They are known as a nuisance bat in some areas, commonly taking refuge in residential and commercial structures like sheds, attics, crawl spaces, and more.

Mexican Free-Tailed Bat

“Tadarida brasiliensis”

The Mexican Free-Tailed Bat is also commonly referred to as the Brazilian free-tailed bat. They are native to many parts of North America, but unfortunately experiencing population decline in California, making their preservation a growing concern. The Mexican Free-Tailed Bat is a medium-sized bat that has much in common with the above-mentioned species.

They are nocturnal insectivores that use ultrasonic sounds called echolocation to navigate and hunt for insects at night. Growing up to 9 centimeters in length and up to 12 grams in weight, the Mexican Free-Tailed Bat is a medium-sized species.

Bat Problems

If you are experiencing nuisance bat problems on your property, you require non-lethal bat exclusion and extraction services from a professional bat removal and control company. They use safe and humane methods to get rid of bats and prevent their return. But don’t just call any service, trust only an experienced wildlife rescue and control company in your town!

Indianapolis Bat Removal

Call 317-535-4605 for prompt and professional Indianapolis bat removal you can trust. We are DNR licensed and insured wildlife control contractors that specialize is safe, non-lethal bat exclusion and extraction services. Whether commercial or residential, we are fully-equipped to extract from any property. Call 317-535-4605 to learn more about getting rid of bats in Indianapolis, IN today.