Hoary Bat

Arrived home mid day yesterday to find this furry little creature on our foundation (southern exposure) near our garage. We weren't sure if it was animal or vegetable because it was in a nice little egg shaped ball with no apendages sticking out. A light touch and it moved - we could see it's a bat!

Saturday morning it's still here. The local wildlife person has had reports of two lethargic bats a mile or so from here, on the ground and not moving but not dead. These are more bat looking and not like ours. She sent photos to wildlife nc for more info.

Ours appears to be a hoary bat, a solitary creature. Photo attached.

This message was edited Feb 15, 2014 8:53 AM

This message was edited Feb 15, 2014 2:29 PM

Oh wow, what an unusual sighting. Disoriented by the weather and trying to stay warm perhaps?

How cute! I bet it is disoriented from the weather and the southern side of your house should be warmer, which it would like.
I want a bat house.......
Barb

Unfortunately, what you have described is very familiar to me. They now have identified what has been waking up bats during hibernation. Since they are awakened when there is no food supply, it is estimated that 90% of the bats die. This is why there is a ban on hiking in and around caves which have bat populations.

http://www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/regions/northamerica/unitedstates/northcarolina/placesweprotect/bat-cave-preserve.xml

http://www.batconservation.org/about-bats/conservation/white-nose-syndrome

benefitting BatConservation.org above: Pre-made bat houses, as well as plans ($8) and mesh ($4) to use for building bat houses. http://batstore.org/collections/bat-houses

The BatConservation.org website also has information about what plants attract insects which bats feed on:
http://www.batconservation.org/take-action/gardening-for-bats


This message was edited Nov 17, 2014 4:03 PM

CutNGlass, thanks for the enlightening information. Our little bat disappeared (hopefully to live a healthy life), but that same week two different species were found dead in our development.

I have two bat houses, but no bats yet. I know it may take a long time for any to show up. Thanks for the link CutNGlass.
Barb