Two species of bats are found throughout Canada - the Big Brown Bat and the Little Brown Bat.  They have slightly different life-cycles and characteristics and as such are handled differently by wildlife removal experts.

Habitat

Urban: In urban environments bats are found in semi-open areas often near trees and water but will make their roots inside building spaces.

Breeding

Time of year: Bats mate in the fall and sometimes into the winter months.  Sperm is stored and ovulation and fertilization are delayed until the female emerges from hibernation.

Litter size: Big Brown Bats have one to two offspring every year while the Little Brown Bat has only one.

Rearing: Little Brown Bats will stay in the roost for the first 18 days of their life and can fly thereafter.  They reach maturity within 3 weeks.  Big Brown Bats take longer to mature and do not reach adult size until 70 days.

Sexual maturity: Female bats are sexually mature near the end of their first year.  Male bats take slightly longer and will reach sexual maturity after their first year.

Food and Feeding

Time of day: Bats are nocturnal and use high frequency echo-location to seek out their food.

Diet: Big Brown Bats eat a variety of insects but prefer beetles.  Little Brown Bats enjoy flying insects like midges, mosquitoes and mayflies.

Morphology and Lifestyle

Wing span: Big Brown Bats - 32 to 39cm; Little Brown Bats - 22 to 27cm.
Weight: Big Brown Bats - 11 to 25g; Little Brown Bats - 5 to 11g.
Vocalization: Bats use high frequency echo-location that is hard to hear with the exception of some clicking sounds.
Lifespan: Between 10 and 20 years with the rare bat living as long as 30 years.

Did You Know?

FACT: Bats play an important role in our environment as they can consume up to 3,000 insects in one night.

FACT: Bats in Canada will not fly in your hair and suck your blood.

FACT: Bats can spread the rabies virus when infected with very little to no evidence of contact.

FACT: Bats can squeeze through a hole the size of a dime.

FACT: A bat can produce several times its own weight in waste each month.