Eastern red bat facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Eastern red bat |
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Lasiurus
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| Species: |
borealis
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The eastern red bat (Lasiurus borealis) is a small type of bat. It belongs to a bat family called Vespertilionidae. These bats live across eastern North America and have also been spotted in Bermuda.
Contents
What Does the Eastern Red Bat Look Like?
Eastern red bats have unique fur colors. Male bats usually have a bright brick or rusty red fur. Females often have a slightly lighter, more frosted shade of red fur.
These bats are quite small. They weigh about 7 to 13 grams (0.25 to 0.46 ounces). This is roughly the weight of a few paper clips! An adult bat is about 109 mm (4.3 inches) long. They have short, rounded ears and long, pointed wings. Their tail is about 52.7 mm (2.07 inches) long.
Where Do Eastern Red Bats Live?
Eastern red bats are found all over eastern North America. Their home range stretches from southern Canada down to northeastern Mexico. This area is generally east of the Continental Divide.
Seasonal Movements
During the winter, many eastern red bats move to warmer areas. They are often found in the southeastern United States and northeastern Mexico. They tend to stay near coastal areas during this time.
In the spring and summer, these bats spread out more. You can find them in the Great Lakes region and the Great Plains region. They travel to find good places to raise their young and find food.
What Do Eastern Red Bats Eat?
Eastern red bats are insectivores, which means they mostly eat insects. Their favorite food is moths.
Favorite Meals
Besides moths, they also eat many other types of insects. They are very helpful because they eat many pests that can harm plants. Some of the pests they eat include:
- Gypsy moths
- Tent caterpillar moths
- Cydia moths
- Acrobasis moths
- Cutworm moths
- Coneworm moths
How Do Eastern Red Bats Reproduce?
The breeding season for eastern red bats starts in the autumn. During this time, one female bat might mate with several males.
Bat Pups
Baby bats, called pups, are born in the summer. Eastern red bats usually give birth to about three pups at a time. This is a larger litter compared to many other bat species.
The pups learn to fly when they are about one month old. After they learn to fly, they are weaned, meaning they stop drinking their mother's milk. Even after they can fly and are weaned, the young bats stay with their mother for a short time. Soon after, they become independent and live on their own.
Images for kids
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Female with three pups.
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Female eastern red bat, roosting in a tree
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In 1874 art
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See also
In Spanish: Murciélago colorado para niños
