ODNR Division of Wildlife - A to Z Species Guide - Silver-haired Bat

 Silver-Haired Bat

silver-haired bat
There are many things that distinguish bats in the animal world. Bats are the only mammals capable of flight. For mammals, they are an evolutionarily old group with fossil records dating back 50 million years.

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Silver-haired Bat
Lasionycteris noctivagans

At-a-Glance

• Mating: Polygamous

• Peak Breeding Activity: September and October

• Gestation Period: 50-60 days

• Young are Born: May and June

• Number of Litters per Year: One. Young bats are called pups and they are dependent on their mothers

• Feeding Periods: One hour or two after sunset and before sunrise

• Typical Foods: Insects -- moths, beetles, bugs, caddisflies and stoneflies


• Ohio Status: Species of Concern
Description
This bat can be easily identified by the frosted appearance made by its white-tipped black hairs.

Habitat and Habits
The silver-haired bat prefers mature northern forests with ponds and streams nearby. It roosts in trees during the summer and winter. It may also migrate south in the winter.

Reproduction and Care of the Young
Breeding takes place during the late summer and early fall during a behavioral phenomenon known as “swarming.” At this time, large numbers of bats visit and congregate in a succession of caves just prior to hibernation. Although sperm is transferred to the female during copulation that occurs in the fall, ovulation and fertilization of the egg are delayed until the females arouse from hibernation the following spring.

During the summer, females form maternity colonies, mostly in man-made structures, although some will roost in tree cavities or under the peeling bark of dead trees. Summer roosts are typically warm and relatively dark.