Bats

 

Tri-colored bat (Perimyotis subflavus)

NPS Photo/ CUGA

Bats are the only mammals capable of true flight and they make up an incredible diversity of species around the world, totaling over 1,400 individual species. A total of 13 species of bats are confirmed to live in the park. Not all the bat species found in the park use caves as one might expect. Only eight or nine species use the cave during times of maternity or during the long winter hibernation season. The other bat species utilize trees and structures such as bridges and buildings across the park and rarely go into caves.

Species such as Eastern red bats utilize tree hollows during the summer season and often will burrow under leaf litter to spend their winters. Other species such as silver-haired bats and big brown bats may simply tuck into cracks and crevices outside of or near cave entrances. Tri-colored bats, little brown bats, Northern long-eared bats, and Indiana bats mainly use caves during the winter and can be found using trees or structures during the summer months. Rafinesque’s big-eared bats use caves in the winter, but during summer can be found in caves, trees or man-made structures.

Gray bats are one of the species that use caves year-round. Female gray bats prefer maternity caves that have high dome areas that trap warm air, making it ideal for bat pups that are born hairless to stay warm until their fur grows out. Male gray bats form bachelor colonies and hang out in caves that may be the same cave they overwinter in or in caves closer to their feeding grounds.

 

Upon exiting the cave, all cave tour participants are required to clean their shoes on a biosecurity mat to slow the spread of white-nose syndrome.

NPS Photo/ Molly Schroer

Threatened and Endangered

Three of the bat species living in the park are listed as either threatened or endangered on the Federal Endangered Species List. These species include the Indiana bat (endangered), gray bat (endangered) and the northern long-eared bat (threatened).

White-nose Syndrome

White-nose syndrome (WNS) is a fungal disease killing bats in North America. Research indicates that the WNS causing fungus, Pseudogymnoascus destructans, is likely exotic, introduced from Europe. WNS was first detected at Mammoth Cave in 2012 and the park implemented strict WNS protocol for all people entering the cave to try to slow down the spread of this fatal disease. Due to the presence of this disease, some bat species have seen population declines and mortality rates over 90% and scientists predict some regional extinction of bat species will occur.

 

How Scientists Study Bats

Bat Surveys

 

Bats of Mammoth Cave National Park

Confirmed bat species in the park

• Rafinesque's big-eared bat Corynorhinus rafinesquii

• big brown bat Eptesicus fuscus

• silver-haired bat Lasionycteris noctivagans

• Eastern red bat Lasiurus borealis

• hoary bat Lasiurus cinereus

• Seminole bat Lasiurus seminolus

• gray bat Myotis grisescens

• Eastern small-footed bat Myotis leibii

• little brown bat Myotis lucifugus

• northern long-eared bat Myotis septentrionalis

• Indiana bat Myotis sodalis

• evening bat Nycticeius humeralis

• tri-colored bat Perimyotis subflavus

Unconfirmed bat species in the park

• Southeastern bat Myotis austroriparius

  • Status: Probably present, native to region

• Brazilian free-tailed bat Tadarida brasiliensis

  • Status: Not in park, historical range

 

Park Species List

Explore a sortable database of species found in the park.

NPSpecies

 

Learn More

Bats in National Parks