10/26/2026
Bats are more than just spooky Halloween visitors! 🌙 North Carolina is home to 17 species of bats, and bats represent about one-quarter of all mammal species worldwide. Of the 17 species that occur in North Carolina, three are federally endangered and one is federally threatened.
Here's a fun fact: Bats use echolocation to navigate and find food in the dark. Their incredible maneuverability allows them to avoid objects as small as a string—even in total darkness! And that's not all! Some bats can live 20–30 years in the wild and give birth to one pup per year. Like us, they give birth to live young.
Bats are integral to healthy ecosystems worldwide. Here in the United States, they provide pest control services by consuming vast numbers of insects, including mosquitos; a nursing female bat can consume almost her entire body weight in insects in one night. Bats save the corn industry over $1 billion in free pest control every year.
🔎 Want to learn about North Carolina's bats? Visit 🔗www.ncwildlife.gov/species/bat to discover more about these fascinating creatures and their role in our ecosystem.