Bat House Forum

[Terry Lobdell]

Here is a question:

If you have a certain number of mothers in a maternity colony can you assume a near equal number of bachelors in the area?

[LarryH]

That's an interest question.  I don't have a definitive answer, but I wonder if there would be any relationship since they mate in the fall and not the spring?

 

[Joe Spencer]

This doesn't answer the question, but it does provide some insight:

Breeding:  There are two phases, an active phase in which males and females are alert and a passive phase in which males mate with torpid females. Breeding of both sexes is promiscuous.

BIG BROWN:

Reproduction and Care of Young
[font=Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular][size=84]Big brown bats are polygamous. This means that males mate with a large number of females and have no role in the rearing of young. Breeding takes place during the late summer and early fall during a behavioral phenomenon known as “swarming.â€Â

[Terry Lobdell]

Thanks Joe, It appears that I don't have as many males as females........tonight I got an accurate count on my big brown maternity colony.......16 bats.........I've had around that number the past 3 years.........As far as can observe I only have around 5 big brown bachelors. But maybe they roost in other areas........