Name: Bats

Scientific Name: In Arizona 28 species in 4 families: Mormoopidae, Phyllostomidae, Vespertilionidae, Molossidae

Description of Bats: There are close to 1,000 species of bats in the world today. Forty-six species are known to reside in North America and of those, twenty-eight occur in Arizona.

Bats in the Southwestern United States range in size from the tiny western Pipistrelle (Pipistrellus hesperus), weighing in at about two-tenths of an ounce with an eight-inch wingspan; to the Western Mastiff Bat (Eumops perotis), which boasts a wingspan of about two feet and a weight of 2.1 ounces.

Bats Range and Reproduction: Bats are extremely prolific and may be found nearly every habitable climate in the world. Despite this, they are increasingly rare in Arizona due to loss of habitat. Bats will roost in caves, attics, under exfoliating bark, bridges, in mines or any other protected area available.

Female bats generally have one pup per year. To give birth to two is rare, and a very few species bear three or four. The pups are born feet first, a unique presentation among mammals. The mother bat hangs by her thumbs, curls her feet and tail membrane upward and inward to make a basket or cradle to catch her baby in.

Health Information: Although bats can contract and transmit rabies, it is not as common as with other mammals, like skunks. Rather than becoming aggressive when rabid, bats are weak and unable to fly. Any bat found on the ground is a sick bat. Do not touch it. It may bite in defense if you do. If necessary, use gloves to move it away from children and pets. Interestingly, antibodies found in healthy bats suggest that bats sometimes recover from rabies.

In Arizona, species of bats have tested positive for histoplasmosis – an infectious fungus that is carried by bats that spreads in bat guano. Individuals who stir up guano in an attempt to clean out areas may come into contact with spores and become ill as a result. Most cases are mild; however, those with weak immune systems may have difficulty recovering.

Important Facts on Bats:

• Bats are an amazing and important part of our ecosystem.  Humans depend on bats for crop pollination and insect control.
• Bats are never to be killed.  Exclusion, trapping, and removal methods are highly successful and effective in keeping Bats out of homes and businesses.
• Arizonans rely on Bats to help perpetuate the natural beauty of our state by aiding in the pollination of saguaro and other cactus varieties.