Eastern red bat found on South Cove Trail

Eastern red bat (Lasiurus borealis)

Bats live at Ijams. Several species have been documented—big brown, little brown Eastern pipistrelle (today known as tricolored bat—but they are not that easy to find or see. Mostly they come out at twilight and fly around the parking lot lights or patrol up and down the river.

There is one species, however, that can be found hiding in plain sight.

The Eastern red bat (Lasiurus borealis) is solitary. They spend their days roosting, hanging upside down from trees and shrubs. They look like dead leaves dangling from branches, but a closer look reveals that the leaves are covered with fur, have cute little ears and are breathing. Dead leaves really don't breathe.

Last week volunteer Rex McDaniel found one along the South Beech Trail and Dr. Louise led me to it. 

- Stephen Lyn Bales