Bats of the United States and Canada

Hoary Bat, Lasiurus cinereus

124 bats of the united states and canada HOARY BAT Lasiurus cinereus L. c. semotus, Endangered–United States Weight is 25–30 grams (0.9–1.1 ounces); wingspan is 34–41 centimeters (13–16 inches). This is the most widespread bat in the Americas , occurring in most of southern Canada and southward through most of South America. It also occurs in Hawaii (where it is the only native terrestrial mammal), Iceland, Bermuda, and the Dominican Republic. Large, heavily furred bats, they spend summer days concealed in the foliage of trees. They choose a leafy site that is well covered above but open from beneath, generally 3–5 meters (10–15 feet) above the ground, and usually at the edge of a clearing. In late summer, they may wander into caves; many of these bats never find their way out. Because hoary bats rarely enter houses and usually spend the daylight hours well concealed, humans seldom encounter them. Northern populations make long seasonal migrations to and from warmer winter habitats. The sexes apparently are segregated throughout most of the summer range; males are uncommon in the eastern United States at that time. Hoary bats may fly during late afternoon on warm days in winter. Their swift and direct flight pattern and large size make them readily identifiable on the wing in most parts of the range. Moths, true bugs, mosquitoes, other insects, and occasionally other bats may be captured as food. This species has been reported to fly as high as 2,440 meters (8,000 feet). Hoary bats bear two babies in mid-May, June, or early July. The young cling to the mother through the day, but are left hanging on a twig or leaf while she forages at night. Although relatively common throughout most of North America, the Hawaiian subspecies, L. c. semotus (Hawaiian hoary bat), is considered endangered. recto runninghead 125 ...