Living with Bats
Bats are important pollinators and the only flying mammals; they use sound to locate their prey, and they live a long time. Oregon has 15 species of bats, and eight of those are Oregon Conservation Strategy Species. Strategy Species are those having small or declining populations, are at-risk, and/or of management concern.
Some of Oregon's species migrate south in winter while some remain here and hibernate. Bats have echolocation which allows them to make high-pitched sounds then listen to the echo of those sounds to locate where objects are. Echolocation helps them find even the smallest insect.
Fun facts about our bats
- Oregon's bats eat only insects. An adult bat eats about 1,000 insects every hour!
- Bats hang upside down because it gives them an ideal position for take-off.
- Bats can fly 20 to 30 miles an hour and travel more than 100 miles a night.
- A baby bat is called a pup. Young bats can fly between two and five weeks of age.
- Bats are the only flying mammal.
View flyer: Batty for Bats: Facts for kids (pdf)
Other information
- Bat Conservation International
- Build a bat house:
- Living with Bats fact sheet (pdf)
- White Nose Syndrome
- Online Reporting for Sick or Dead Bats
Report a Bat Colony
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