Bat Species Native to Raleigh, NC

Key Takeaways

• North Carolina hosts 17 bat species—all protected as nongame wildlife
• Four species are federally endangered or threatened: Indiana Bat, Virginia Big-eared Bat, Northern Long-eared Bat, and Gray Bat
• Bat evictions are prohibited May 1 – July 31 during pup-rearing season
• Licensed wildlife control agents must perform compensated bat evictions
• White-nose syndrome has devastated cave-dwelling populations since 2011
• A single bat can eat up to its body weight in insects nightly

Big Brown Bat (Eptesicus fuscus)

The Big Brown Bat is one of the most commonly encountered bats in North Carolina homes and is arguably the most adaptable bat species in North America. Their robust build and glossy brown fur make them easily identifiable. These bats demonstrate remarkable adaptability, successfully roosting in various structures from historic buildings to modern bat houses.

Big Brown Bats provide exceptional pest control services, primarily feeding on beetles (including many agricultural pests), moths, and flying insects. A single colony can consume thousands of insects nightly, making them valuable allies for farmers and homeowners alike. Unlike many other species, Big Brown Bats have shown resilience to white-nose syndrome and maintain stable populations throughout North Carolina.

Behavior: These colonial bats form maternity colonies of 20-300 individuals in summer. They hibernate locally in buildings, caves, and mines rather than migrating. Females typically give birth to twins in late May or June.

📚 Big Brown Bat species profile, range maps, and conservation status

Tricolored Bat (Perimyotis subflavus)

Formerly known as the Eastern Pipistrelle

The Tricolored Bat is one of North Carolina’s smallest bats, weighing less than a quarter. Its distinctive tri-colored fur—dark gray at the base, yellowish in the middle, and brown at the tips—gives this species its name. Before white-nose syndrome arrived in North Carolina in 2011, Tricolored Bats were among the most common bats in the state.

These bats prefer forested habitats near water sources, where they forage on small flying insects along waterways and forest edges. In summer, they roost in trees and rock outcrops; in winter, they hibernate in caves and mines where they’re highly susceptible to white-nose syndrome.

Conservation Alert: Population declines of 90% or more have been documented at some hibernation sites. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed listing this species as endangered.

📚 Tricolored Bat federal listing status and recovery efforts

Eastern Red Bat (Lasiurus borealis)

The Eastern Red Bat is an iconic symbol of North Carolina’s bat diversity, instantly recognizable by its striking brick-red to rusty-orange fur. Males tend to be brighter red while females display a more frosted appearance. This tree-roosting species hangs among leaves, where its coloration provides excellent camouflage resembling dead leaves.

Known for their acrobatic flying abilities, Eastern Red Bats are skilled hunters that pursue moths, beetles, and other flying insects. They’re one of the few bat species where females commonly give birth to 3-4 pups (most bats have just one). These bats use echolocation frequencies well-suited for detecting moths and beetles in open areas.

Seasonal Behavior: Eastern Red Bats are partially migratory—some individuals migrate south for winter while others remain in North Carolina, hibernating in leaf litter or tree cavities during cold spells.

📚 Eastern Red Bat identification, habitat preferences, and behavior

Evening Bat (Nycticeius humeralis)

The Evening Bat is commonly found throughout North Carolina in forests, parks, and urban areas. These medium-sized bats have dark brown fur with distinctive black ears, wings, and tail membrane. Unlike many other bat species, Evening Bats rarely use caves, preferring tree cavities, hollow trees, buildings, and spaces behind loose bark.

Evening Bats emerge at dusk with a characteristic looping flight pattern, foraging in areas with scattered trees. They feed on a variety of insects including beetles, moths, flies, and leafhoppers. Beyond pest control, these bats contribute to pollination and seed dispersal during their foraging activities.

Reproduction: Females often give birth to twins (sometimes triplets), making this one of the more prolific bat species. Maternity colonies form in hollow trees, attics, and buildings, typically containing 25-950 individuals.

📚 Evening Bat roosting habits, diet, and distribution range

Little Brown Bat (Myotis lucifugus)

Once one of the most abundant bat species in eastern North America, the Little Brown Bat has experienced devastating population declines due to white-nose syndrome. These small, glossy brown bats have long been favorites among homeowners who install bat houses, as they readily adapt to artificial roosts and provide excellent mosquito control.

Little Brown Bats are voracious insect predators. A nursing female can consume nearly her entire body weight in insects each night—potentially 1,000 mosquito-sized insects. They typically forage over water and along forest edges, using echolocation to detect small flying insects.

Conservation Concern: White-nose syndrome has killed millions of Little Brown Bats since 2006. Some hibernating populations have declined by over 90%, making this formerly common species a priority for conservation efforts.

📚 Little Brown Bat population decline and white-nose syndrome impacts

Brazilian Free-tailed Bat (Tadarida brasiliensis)

The Brazilian Free-tailed Bat (also called the Mexican Free-tailed Bat) is named for its distinctive tail that extends beyond the tail membrane. These remarkable bats are among the fastest flying mammals on Earth, capable of reaching speeds up to 99 mph during horizontal flight.

Free-tailed bats form some of the largest bat colonies in the world. In North Carolina, they typically roost in buildings, under bridges, and in caves. Their high-flying, fast-moving lifestyle makes them exceptional predators of agricultural pests, particularly moths that damage crops.

Key Characteristics:

• Distinctive tail extending beyond membrane
• Deeply wrinkled lips and large ears
• Strong musky odor in roosting areas
• Colonial—can form colonies of thousands

📚 Brazilian Free-tailed Bat colony behavior and pest control benefits

Hoary Bat (Lasiurus cinereus)

The Hoary Bat is North Carolina’s largest bat species, with an impressive wingspan reaching 16 inches. Its distinctive “frosted” or “hoary” appearance comes from white-tipped fur over a base of yellowish-brown. These solitary, tree-roosting bats prefer dense foliage where their unique coloring provides effective camouflage.

Hoary Bats are long-distance migrants, traveling from Canada to Mexico and back. In North Carolina, they’re most commonly observed during spring and fall migration. They’re powerful fliers that hunt moths, beetles, and occasionally dragonflies, typically foraging later at night than other species.

Identification Tips: Look for the distinctive frosted fur, yellowish throat patch, and large size. Hoary Bats also have rounded, fur-rimmed ears.

📚 Hoary Bat migration patterns and identification features

Seminole Bat (Lasiurus seminolus)

The Seminole Bat closely resembles the Eastern Red Bat but displays deeper mahogany-red fur. These bats have a strong preference for roosting in Spanish moss, making them particularly common in North Carolina’s coastal plain and piedmont regions where Spanish moss is abundant.

Seminole Bats are solitary roosters that feed primarily on moths, beetles, and other flying insects in forested areas. Females give birth to a single pup annually, typically in early summer. Conservation efforts focus on protecting habitat with adequate Spanish moss and mature pine trees.

📚 Seminole Bat Spanish moss habitat and southeastern range

Silver-haired Bat (Lasionycteris noctivagans)

The Silver-haired Bat is easily identified by its distinctive black fur tipped with silver, giving it a frosted appearance. These medium-sized bats prefer dense forest environments near water, where they roost in tree cavities, beneath loose bark, and occasionally in woodpecker holes.

Silver-haired Bats are solitary and relatively slow-flying compared to other species, making them well-suited for foraging in dense vegetation. They’re important predators of forest insects, including moths and beetles that can damage trees. This species migrates through North Carolina in spring and fall, with some individuals overwintering in the state.

📚 Silver-haired Bat forest ecology and seasonal movements

Northern Yellow Bat (Lasiurus intermedius)

The Northern Yellow Bat is a large, distinctive species with yellowish-orange to gray-brown fur. Found primarily along North Carolina’s coastal plain, these bats have a strong association with Spanish moss and are rarely found far from this hanging plant. Unlike most Lasiurine bats, Northern Yellow Bats may form small colonies.

These bats are most commonly seen at dusk foraging around street lamps or over open areas like golf courses, pastures, and lake edges. They feed 16-20 feet above ground on leafhoppers, flies, beetles, and mosquitoes. The species remains active year-round except during extreme cold, when they enter torpor in their moss roosts.

Threats: Removal of Spanish moss and old palm fronds destroys critical roosting habitat. Residential mosquito spraying also threatens this species by reducing prey availability.

📚 Northern Yellow Bat coastal habitat and conservation concerns

Indiana Bat (Myotis sodalis)

⚠️ FEDERALLY ENDANGERED

The Indiana Bat is one of the most endangered bat species in North America, listed under the Endangered Species Act since 1967. In North Carolina, this species is found primarily in the western mountains, including the famous Bat Cave—the largest granite fissure cave in North America.

Indiana Bats have distinctive gray-brown fur and can be difficult to distinguish from Little Brown Bats without close examination. They hibernate in large clusters in caves during winter, then disperse to forested areas in summer where females raise pups under loose bark of dead or dying trees.

Threats: Habitat loss, white-nose syndrome, and disturbance at hibernation sites have caused severe population declines. It’s illegal to disturb these bats or their habitat without federal permits.

📚 Indiana Bat endangered species listing and federal protection guidelines

Northern Long-eared Bat (Myotis septentrionalis)

⚠️ FEDERALLY ENDANGERED

The Northern Long-eared Bat was reclassified from threatened to endangered in 2023 due to catastrophic population declines from white-nose syndrome. As the name suggests, this species has notably long ears relative to its body size. In North Carolina, they’re found in the mountains and coastal plain—but notably absent from the piedmont.

These bats rely heavily on intact forest stands for roosting and foraging during summer months. They often hunt by gleaning insects directly from vegetation surfaces, a technique enabled by their large ears and sensitive echolocation. They hibernate in caves and mines during winter.

Conservation Priority: RAWA funding supports recovery projects. Protecting forested habitat and preventing cave disturbance are critical for this species’ survival.

📚 Northern Long-eared Bat endangered status and habitat protection requirements

Gray Bat (Myotis grisescens)

⚠️ FEDERALLY ENDANGERED

The Gray Bat is unique among North Carolina’s bats for its uniform gray fur—unlike other Myotis species, the hairs are the same color from base to tip. This species is perhaps the most cave-dependent mammal in North America, using caves year-round for both hibernation and summer roosting.

Gray Bats are highly colonial, with 95% of the population hibernating in just 15 caves. They forage primarily over water, eating aquatic insects like mayflies and caddisflies. In North Carolina, they occur only in the western mountains, at the eastern edge of their range.

Recovery Progress: Unlike other endangered bats, Gray Bats appear largely resistant to white-nose syndrome. Conservation efforts focusing on cave protection have helped stabilize populations, though they remain endangered due to limited habitat.

📚 Gray Bat cave habitat requirements and recovery plan progress

Virginia Big-eared Bat (Corynorhinus townsendii virginianus)

⚠️ FEDERALLY ENDANGERED

The Virginia Big-eared Bat’s most striking feature is its enormous ears—over one inch long, nearly a third of its body length. This medium-sized bat also has distinctive glandular lumps on either side of its nose. North Carolina hosts only one known population, centered around Grandfather Mountain in Avery and Watauga counties, with an estimated 600-800 individuals.

These bats are extremely sensitive to disturbance and will abandon roosts entirely if disturbed. They use caves year-round, with separate winter hibernacula and summer maternity caves. Moths comprise about 90% of their diet, including invasive species like the gypsy moth.

NC Conservation Plan: North Carolina approved a dedicated conservation plan in 2024 to protect this isolated population. Protective cave gates, habitat acquisition, and monitoring efforts are ongoing priorities.

📚 Virginia Big-eared Bat critical habitat and Appalachian population status

Rafinesque’s Big-eared Bat (Corynorhinus rafinesquii)

⚠️ STATE THREATENED

Rafinesque’s Big-eared Bat (also called the Southeastern Big-eared Bat) has rabbit-like ears over an inch long and distinctive glandular lumps on its nose. The bat has gray fur on its back and white fur on its belly—distinguishing it from the buffy-bellied Virginia Big-eared Bat.

These slow, agile fliers specialize in gleaning moths from vegetation surfaces. In North Carolina, they roost in hollow tupelo, gum, and cypress trees in bottomland hardwood forests, as well as abandoned buildings, bridges, and occasionally caves. Unlike many cave-dwelling species, Rafinesque’s Big-eared Bats appear largely unaffected by white-nose syndrome.

Habitat Needs: Large hollow trees (averaging 79 cm diameter) near water are essential. Protecting mature bottomland forests is critical for this species’ survival in North Carolina.

📚 Rafinesque’s Big-eared Bat bottomland forest habitat and threats

Southeastern Myotis (Myotis austroriparius)

The Southeastern Myotis is known for its distinctively colored fur—females often display bright, vibrant hues. In North Carolina and other areas lacking caves, these bats roost in hollow tupelo, gum, and cypress trees in bottomland hardwood forests. They also use Spanish moss for shelter in coastal areas.

These bats forage over water and in forests, feeding on moths, beetles, spiders, and mosquitoes. Unlike most Myotis species that have single pups, Southeastern Myotis females typically give birth to twins. This higher reproductive rate may help populations recover from disturbances.

Threats: Habitat loss from wetland drainage and deforestation, along with human disturbance at roosting sites, threaten this species. Protecting bottomland hardwood forests is essential for their conservation.

📚 Southeastern Myotis wetland ecology and reproduction patterns

Eastern Small-footed Myotis (Myotis leibii)

The Eastern Small-footed Myotis is the smallest bat in eastern North America and one of the rarest. As its name indicates, it has distinctively small feet (8mm or less). Other identifying features include a black facial “mask,” black ears, and dark wing membranes contrasting with golden-brown fur.

In North Carolina, this species occurs only in the western mountains, where it roosts in unique habitats: talus slopes, rock ledges, cliff crevices, and beneath rocks on hillsides. Unlike other cave bats, Eastern Small-footed Myotis hibernate horizontally rather than vertically and have the shortest hibernation period of any North Carolina bat.

Status: Despite initial concerns, this species appears less vulnerable to white-nose syndrome than other hibernating bats. However, habitat destruction and disturbance during hibernation remain conservation concerns. Maternity colonies have been documented in western North Carolina, including in historic buildings at high elevations.

📚 Eastern Small-footed Myotis rocky habitat and hibernation behavior