New Jersey Bats: According to New Jersey Fish and Wildlife GOV
New Jersey has nine species of bats that are considered regular residents of New Jersey. These New Jersey bats include the little brown bat, big brown bat, northern long-eared bat, small-footed myotis, the New Jersey Eastern pipistrel, the New Jersey Indiana bat (state and federally endangered), hoary bat, red bat and silver-haired bat. The New Jersey hoary, red and silver-haired bats are part-time New Jersey residents that are found here from spring through fall when they migrate to southern states for the winter. The other New Jersey six species remain here throughout the entire year and require special habitats for winter hibernation. New Jersey natural caves once provided hibernating habitat for bats, but today most caves are subject to disturbance by people and thus are not suitable for use by New Jersey bats. Abandoned New Jersey mines and tunnels have replaced natural caves as the primary winter habitat for bats in many parts of the country because they are often unsafe to enter or inaccessible to people.
New Jersey’s largest known bat hibernaculum is the New Jersey Hibernia Mine in Rockaway Township, Morris County. The New Jersey mine was abandoned in the early 1900s and the first record of bats using the mine is from the 1930s. In the decades that followed, the New Jersey mine continued to provide winter habitat for bats but frequent and constant human disturbance limited the New Jersey mine’s potential. Over the years a number of unsuccessful New Jersey attempts were made by landowners to seal the mine to keep people out. However, sealing the New Jersey mine would have also made it unavailable to the bats.
Two kinds of New Jersey bats in our area are often found roosting in colonies inside buildings, the big brown and little brown bats. Other bats, called New Jersey solitary bats, do not usually enter buildings.
Recognizing the essential role of bats in New Jersey’s ecosystem, particularly in rural areas like the Pine Barrens and the Delaware Water Gap region, is crucial. Bats serve as natural pest controllers, aiding in the management of insect populations that threaten crops and forests. Additionally, in urban areas such as Newark and Jersey City, bats contribute to pollination and seed dispersal, supporting the growth of diverse vegetation and maintaining ecological balance. Preserving bat populations in New Jersey is vital for sustaining the state’s biodiversity and ensuring the health of its natural habitats.
From an environmental perspective, safely removing bats from commercial and residential properties in New Jersey is imperative for human safety and environmental preservation. In densely populated areas like Paterson and Elizabeth, where bats may seek shelter in buildings, employing proper exclusion methods is necessary to mitigate potential health risks associated with bat guano and diseases such as rabies. Implementing humane exclusion techniques and advocating for bat-friendly practices can help property owners protect public health while preserving the ecological benefits that bats provide to New Jersey’s diverse ecosystems.
List of the 20 largest cities in New Jersey: 1. Newark 2. Jersey City 3. Paterson 4. Elizabeth 5. Edison 6. Woodbridge 7. Lakewood 8. Toms River 9. Hamilton Township 10. Clifton 11. Camden 12. Brick Township 13. Cherry Hill 14. Passaic 15. Union City 16. Old Bridge 17. Middletown 18. Bayonne 19. Franklin Township 20. East Orange