There are 14 species of bats in South Carolina? Our most common bat species here in the upstate include the Big Brown, Red, Northern Long-eared and the Tri-colored bats. Some are found statewide and some in just certain areas of our state. Many bat populations have decreased in numbers due to a fungal infection, know as White Nose Syndrome (WNS).
White Nose Syndrome was first reported in 2007 in New York. Current thinking is that poor conditioned animals are suffering from fungal infections but the fungal infections themselves may or may not be the primary cause of deaths and poor animal condition. This WNS fungus affects hibernating bats since it prefers the cool and moist environment of a cave. In caves, WNS results in bats awakening when no food source is available, so the animals succumb to starvation. There’s been some speculation tis syndrome is linked to pesticide use or warmer than usual roost temperatures. Bat biologists presently doing research on Little Brown Bats in Stumphouse Tunnel in Oconee County in SC have reported good news in that population numbers there are gradually improving from losses due to WNS.
Not all bats hibernate in caves, some like the common red bat, overwinters under loose tree bark or under leaf litter. Some bats even migrate, like our red and hoary bats. One thing they all have in common is that they are the only true flying mammal.
Bats use echolocation to help them hunt for insects in the dark. All of our bats are insect-eating bats. In just one night, a single bat can eat up to 1,000 mosquitoes. They also save farmers $23 billion a year in agriculture losses! Habitat loss is also a factor in the decline of our bat species. One way you can help bats is to put up a bat house.
