All bat species in the United States are insectivorous except for three nectar-eating species that migrate from Mexico and one fruit-eating species that inhabits the Florida Keys.
Species
Big brown batIndiana batMexican long-nosed batLittle brown bat
In 2009 the Grandview Mine in the Grand Canyon National Park had gates added to support on-going bat research, preserve historic mine resources, and promote visitor safety.
Seventeen species of bats live in the Carlsbad Caverns National Park, including a large number of Mexican free-tailed bats.[1] It has been estimated that the population of Mexican free-tailed bats once numbered in the millions but has declined drastically in modern times. The cause of this decline is unknown but the pesticide DDT is often listed as a primary cause.
State insignia
As of February 2011, at least three states had an official bat. Hawai'i named the Hawaiian hoary bat as the official state land mammal in April 2015.[2] The general assembly of North Carolina considered a bill in 2007 that would have made Rafinesque's big-eared bat as its state bat. The bill passed 92-15, but died in the state senate.[3] In 2020, the big brown bat was designated the official state mammal of the District of Columbia.[4] In 2023, a successful campaign was launched to make the pallid bat the state bat of California.[5] The bill passed both houses unanimously and will take effect on January 1, 2024.[6]
^Bluth, Rachel (August 16, 2023). "In a coup for the dark and damp, bats and mushrooms get their moment in Sacramento". POLITICO. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
^ a b"Bill History - SB-732 Bats". leginfo.legislature.ca.gov. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
^"Senate Selects Bat as State's Flying Mammal". Oklahoma State Senate: Communications Division. March 8, 2006. Retrieved August 18, 2011.
^"Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 95, 74th Legislature, Regular Session (1995)". Texas State Legislature. 1995. Retrieved August 18, 2011.
^"HB 2579 Bat, big-eared; designating as official emblem of State". Virginia State Legislature. March 31, 2005. Retrieved August 18, 2011.