Bats

Little Brown Bat

NPS Photo / Erickson Smith

Bats are one of the lesser-known and mysterious residents of the park, especially active at dusk. They represent the second largest group of mammals, making up 20% of all mammal species globally, and are the only mammals capable of self-powered flight. Bats are exceptionally agile, performing aerial acrobatics to catch insects, particularly over the Pogue and adjacent fields. Depending on the species, they may live solitary lives or in social colonies numbering in the millions.

Bats in Vermont

Vermont is home to 9 species of bats, with 3 residing in the park:

• Northern Long-eared Bat
• Little Brown Bat
• Eastern Small-footed Bat

The Indiana Bat is suspected to potentially inhabit the park, though it's hard to identify due to its rarity.

Importance of Bats

Bats play a vital role in ecosystems as seed dispersers and pollinators for hundreds of species. They primarily consume insects, providing significant pest control, which allows farmers to reduce pesticide use. For example, little brown bats can catch over 150 mosquitoes and crop pests in less than 15 minutes.

Bat Habitat

Bats at Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller utilize diverse habitats, often near the Pogue, in adjacent fields, and forest clearings. Female bats form maternity colonies during pregnancy (lasting 6-9 weeks) and into the initial weeks of their pups' lives. This period is sensitive, as disturbed bats may abandon their young. The park has initiated a monitoring program to mitigate potential impacts on bat populations.

Threats to Bats

Bats face several threats, including:

• Climate Change: Extremes in weather can disrupt bats’ ability to fly, hunt, migrate, or hibernate.
• Habitat Loss: Human development can encroach on and fragment bat habitats.
• Diseases: White-nose syndrome (WNS) has led to millions of bat deaths worldwide, with some sites reporting fatality rates as high as 90-100%.

The park adheres to U.S. Fish and Wildlife best management practices to safeguard migratory bat populations.

Bats, Rabies, and You

Typically, less than 1% of bats in healthy colonies are infected with rabies, which they can transmit to humans through bites or scratches. Other animals, like raccoons and skunks, are also rabies reservoirs. All animals with rabies will die from thh disease. While rabies is fatal in humans, it is preventable with timely medical care post-exposure. Each year, up to 30,000 people in the U.S. receive rabies vaccinations due to potential exposure. Unfortunately, each year 3-5 people die of rabies in the U.S. due to lack of timely and appropriate medical care.

Safety Tips:

• Observe wildlife from a safe distance.
• Report unusual animal behavior to a ranger.
• Keep pets away from wildlife and ensure their vaccinations are up to date.
• Tell children about rabies - they are most at risk!

For more information on wildlife health, visit National Park Service One Health.