Gray Bat
All About The Outstanding Gray Bat Species
The gray bat is indigenes to the southeastern regions of the United States, though his territories and native caves have suffered a decline in numbers over the past thirty years. Gray bats are highly sensitive to the slightest disturbances to their environments, as the hibernation period is of utmost importance to their health and survival. A maternal den, which is where the female gray bat and her fellow mothers will gather for socialization and protection, must not be disturbed by human activity during the crucial paternity hibernation. Also, when each of the mothers has birthed her one precious baby, he will need her for nutrition and warmth for the first 22 days of his life. Should she be forced to desert him, the entire clutch of that mating season will be lost. This is a high risk business for the gray bat, and human interference has taken its toll on the overall population.
The gray bat has a wing span of about 10 inches when fully outstretched, and is the only species of bat with bi-colored dorsal hairs. The veined wings of the gray bat are connected to the ankle, rather than to the first toe as on most other bats. It is an absolute delight to watch the gray bat hunt, as he will only do so over water. This is where his echolocation technology is at its best, and he hardily feeds on insects and mayflies all hours of the night. He also has very specific cave needs and preferences, and this makes it difficult for him to just pick up and push off once his den has been disturbed.
Gray bats keep seasonable migratory patterns, which is to say that they keep both summer caves and winter caves. The winter cave needs to be deeper and colder, as this is his hibernation time and too much warmth could expend too much precious energy. The summer cave of the gray bat needs to be warmer, at least 57 degrees steadily, in order to make for a proper hang out. The communal bats will snuggle together for warmth, as this helps them to digest and socialize much more effectively.
The gray bat is in threatened status, as many of his established cave sites in Alabama, a common stronghold, have been abandoned. Numbers seem to be holding steady in Missouri, Arkansas, Alabama, Kentucky, and Tennessee. The gray bat needs water for his feeding grounds, so the proper nesting sites would be within ten to twelve miles of a river or a lake, and preferably more than one of these sources. Like the hibernating bear, the female gray bat is able to store sperm, and later impregnate herself according to a very tight window of opportunity for success.