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Types of bats in Louisiana

Louisiana is home to 11 species of bats. Bats are beneficial to our area and help maintain the insect population. Some bats, like the Mexican-free-tailed bat in Louisiana actually pollinate our sugar-cane crops.

Louisiana bats often migrate but some species do not. It is quite common for most of the bats to appear to be gone during October, November, and December but then seem to reappear in January. This change in local population is due to some members of the colony migrating out while others stay behind, so just because someone says that free-tailed bats are migratory you might find that you still have bats in the attic even during the winter months. 

  • Mexican Free-tailed bat (Tadarida brasiliensis)
    • Eastern subspecies: non-migratory
    • Western subspecies: migratory 
  • Big Brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus)
  • Silver-haired bat (Lasionycteris noctivagans)
  • Eastern Red bat (Lasiurus borealis)
  • Hoary bat (Lasiurus cinereus)
  • Seminole bat (Lasiurus seminolis)
  • Northern Yellow bat (Lasiurus intermedius)
  • Southeastern Myotis (Myotis austroriparius)
  • Northern long-eared Myotis (Myotis septentrionalis )
  • Evening bat (Nycticeius humeralis )
  • Tri-colored bat (Perimyotis subflavus)
  • Rafinesque’s big-eared bat (Corynorhinus rafinesquii )

There are 2 species in Louisiana that are commonly found in the attic, walls, or chimneys of homes and businesses.

  • Mexican-free-tailed bat
  • Evening bat

These 2 species intermingle and are often found in the same roost. No matter the species, living with bats in your home is not really a very good option, our bat removal services can help!

Mexican Free-Tailed Bat
Mexican free-talied bat shown here is aperfect example of the kind of bats we find in the New Orleans area. This species has been found in Covington, Mandeville, Hammond, Slidell, Metairie, Kenner, Harahan, River Ridge, and even in Houma! I have seen them as far north as Jackson MS, and on over into Biloxi, MS as well. You can tell this is a mexican free-tail because of it's tail and the way the ears almost join together completely at the top. While they are not a vicious animal care should be taken to not handle them with bare hands as their best defense might be to bite or scratch you!

 

 

Rabies Testing

If you’re wondering about rabies, it is true that bats carry rabies however in 2017 only 2 bats tested positive for rabies. Because rabies is such a serious matter, if you think you may have been in contact with a bat you should ask your healthcare professional for advice. In Louisiana currently LSU is the only place I know of that is doing rabies testing. You can find information about rabies testing in Louisiana here.

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