MELBOURNE BAT REMOVAL COMPANY
(321) 622-2225
Florida Bonneted Bat (Eumops floridanus)
The Florida bonneted bat also referred to as the Florida mastiff bat is a critically endangered species that has a very limited range of distribution. They are only found in a hand full of different counties in the southernmost region of Florida that includes Charlotte, Collier, Lee, Miami-Dade, and Monroe. They are naturally a forest-dwelling species that habitats areas that include semitropical forests populated with tropical hardwoods, pineland areas, mangroves, suburban areas, and even golf courses.
Color and Size
The Florida bonneted bat has a range of colorings that spans from black and gray to brown or a cinnamon brown color. The individual strands of fur are bi-colored as the base is lighter in color than the tip. It has even been seen that some individuals are colored with a white band across their abdomen. They are known to be the largest species in Florida and can reach lengths of up to 6 ½ inches long, a wingspan of up to 20 inches, and can weigh as much as 65 grams.
Diet and Behavior
These insectivores have what is considered to be an unusual roosting behavior. They roost in small groups known as harems where that are around 20 females and a single male. They will normally roost inside hollowed out trees within their range but have also been found in man-made structures as well. Because of their residence within a temperate climate, they do not migrate or hibernate and will remain active all year around, but they will go into a torpid state during cold spells in the winter months.
The females of the species may go into estrous more than once a year and will only bear a single pup from a given birth. They have been documented to be reproducing in the summer months and also in January and February.