Velvet Wings Bat Sanctuary is located on five acres of private land in the San Bernardino mountains of Southern California, the ideal location for these mysterious creatures of the night to dwell. There are atleast 20 different species (and several sub-species) in the San Bernardino county alone. Bats are among the most important yet underrated animals in the world. Despite the fact that almost a quarter of all known mammal species are bats, most people know very little about them. Bats are vital for pollination, seed-dispersal and insect control, but are being killed indiscriminately or chased out of the few safe habitats left to them, because of misinformation and ignorance.
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Try the BEST MySpace Editor and MySpace Backgrounds at MySpace Toolbox !California Leaf-nosed Bat
(Macrotus californicus)
Description: Small bat, body about 3 3/8" to 3 5/8" long, with a 13" wingspan. Gray to dark brown fur above with pale fur below. Large ears, erect triangular leaf shape on nose.
Range: Found from southern California to western Arizona and southern Nevada, down into Mexico.
Habitat: Likes desert scrub areas, roosts by day in caves, abandoned mines and tunnels. Occurs in small numbers, rarely seen.
Diet: Various insects, mostly crickets, grasshoppers, moths, beetles and the occasional caterpillar.
Behavior: Excellent nightvision and hearing, can see insects by starlight and hear a cricket's footsteps. Females form nursery colonies of between 100 to 500 individuals. Bears a single young each year in May or June. Doesn't hibernate so is restricted to warmer climates and underground roosts. Emerges late in the evening, not an early riser. Well-adapted to its arid habitat, has never been observed drinking water.
Yuma Myotis
(Myotis yumanensis)
Description: Body length of 3 3/8" to 3 7/8", wingspan about 9". Short, dull brown fur above, paler below. Pale throat, medium length ears.
Range: Found across much of western U.S., up into western Canada.
Habitat: Always found near lakes, creeks or ponds. Roosts by day under building sidings or shingles. Nursery colonies choose caves, mines, buildings or under bridges.
Diet: Moths, midges, termites, other insects that fly over water.
Behavior: Skims low over the water to snatch up flying insects. Bears a single pup each year in May or June.
California Myotis
(Myotis californicus)
Description: Body length of 2 7/8" to 3 3//8", wingspan about 9". Long, dull fur, lightish to dark brown with golden cast on head, paler fur below. Medium length dark brown or black ears and mask, dark wings and tail membrane.
Range: Found across most of western North America.
Habitat: Lives in desert scrub and semi-arid regions. Likes rocky canyons, roosts under tree bark or bridges, in buildings.
Diet: Small flies, moths, other insects.
Behavior: Sometimes hibernates in mineshafts. Can make abrupt mid-flight turns, making flight look erratic. Starts feeding early in evening. Forms small nursery colonies, bears a single young each year.
Western Mastiff Bat
(Eumops perotis)
Description: This is the biggest North American bat, with a body length of 5 1/2 to 7 1/2" and a wingspan of over 22". Fur is dark brown, kind of thin, hairs white at base. Has huge ears, joined at base and extending out over forehead like a bonnet.
Range: Southern California and Arizona, extending down into Mexico.
Habitat: Lives in rocky areas and cliff faces. Roosts in cliff crevices and buildings.
Diet: Mostly moths, some crickets, grasshoppers, other insects.
Behavior: Forms small colonies of up to about 100 bats. Very vocal bat, emits many loud cheaping sounds while flying, audible to the human ear. Sometimes forages by crawling on the ground, with tail held up in the air. Bears a single young each year, in the early summer.
