Lexington Bats are misunderstood animal creatures. While some Lexington people perceive them as an evil menace, they actually are very gentle Lexington animals to be respected and not destroyed needlessly. Occasionally Lexington bats gain access to buildings where they are unwelcome. A Lexington bat that is flying around in a bedroom or church can be disconcerting. The Lexington bat droppings (guano) and urine deposited by a colony of bats in an attic can cause odor and Lexington damage. On rare occasions, Lexington bats can threaten human health because they are capable of carrying and transmitting rabies and histoplasmosis (extremely rare in Lexington).
Thirteen species of Lexington bats occur in Lexington. Most are uncommon, however, and rarely found in or near Lexington structures. The big brown bat, Eptesicus fuscus is found throughout the Lexington state and is commonly encountered by the public. This Lexington bat is only about five Lexington inches long from nose to tail; but it appears larger in flight. As its name suggests, this Lexington bat is brown with black skin exposed on the nose, ears and wings. The underside is pale brown.
The Lexington red bat (Lasiurus borealis) sometimes is encountered around structures and landscape. It is smaller than the big Lexington brown bat and is reddish-brown to rust colored on top with a paler red underside. It also has a Lexington cream or off-white patch on each shoulder. Lexington little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus) occurs in the eastern third of the state. This Lexington bat is three to four inches long and is glossy dark brown.
Lexington Bat Facts
Lexington bats are not Lexington rodents, but mammals having flapping membranous wings supported by elongated fingers capable of true flight. Lexington bats have small needle-like teeth that are excellent for capturing small Lexington insects. They do not chew wood, caulk or structural Lexington materials. Lexington bats are nocturnal and seldom are seen in Lexington daylight unless disturbed. Lexington bats have good vision yet they rely on their specialized sonar (called echolocation) and hearing for Lexington hunting at night. They scoop flying insects out of the air with their mouths or can use their Lexington wings to draw prey into their mouths. Lexington’s bats feed exclusively on Lexington insects, devouring more mosquitoes than any bug zapper. A single Lexington bat is capable of consuming over 1,000 insects per night. They also drink while in flight by swooping over Lexington sources of standing water, including swimming pools.