Bats

Scientific name: Chiroptera

Common species: (in Northern California) Brazilian Free-Tailed Bat, Pallid Bat, Big Brown Bat, California Myotis, Hoary Bat, Silver-Haired Bat, Long-Eared Bat

Average size: Can range from 3-6 inches, with a wingspan of 7-16 inches (Varies by species)

Commonly found: Dark, secluded places such as attics, storage sheds, caves, trees

Diet: Most species are insectivores, some species eat fruit, and vampire bats feed on the blood of other animals

General characteristics and facts:

Bats communicate and travel using echolocation
They are slow to reproduce
More than 1/2 of bat species in the US are endangered or at serious risk of endangerment
Many bat species migrate south or hibernate in the winter