Western Small-footed Bat

• Size: 3-4 in
• Diet: Insectivores, mostly small flying insects found in their flight path
• Seasonal Habits: Hibernate in caves and mines from November - February
• Temperament: Not aggressive

They are flying mammals that can reach speeds of 20-30 mph. They have echolocation that allows them to make high pitched sounds and use the echo of those sounds to navigate around objects and find their prey, even the tiniest of insects. You can often see them flying in the early evening as they feed on flying insects. Have you noticed some of the bird houses located around the ranch and retreat do not have a hole on the front of them? They are actually bat houses to encourage them to stay close and help us naturally control the mosquitoes as they can eat up to 1,000 insects in 1 hour.