Species MammalsEastern Red Bat

Eastern Red Bat

Lasiurus borealis

CommonMammal
Illustration of Eastern Red Bat (Lasiurus borealis)
Safety note: May carry rabies — do not approach or handle.

The Eastern Red Bat is one of North America's most striking bats, with males sporting bright brick-red fur that camouflages perfectly among dead leaves when roosting in foliage. It is a solitary, tree-roosting bat that migrates along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, sometimes in groups of thousands during autumn movement. Females typically give birth to three or four young—an unusually large litter for a bat.

Habitat
Deciduous and mixed forests, forest edges, and orchards
Diet
Moths, beetles, crickets, and flying insects
How common
Common

Best time to see a Eastern Red Bat

The best time to see a Eastern Red Bat is March–August, when about 68% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 3,970 research-grade iNaturalist observations.

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Recent Eastern Red Bat sightings near you

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