Bat House Forum

[cloudman75]

The bat's ear is clear on this photo. Anyone care to say what species it may be? Learning to use my new Kodak. Even the claws are clear on the wings. The tragus in the ear has the shape and size of an eastern pipistrelle from what I have seen and read.

Frank

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[IowaNate]

Frank, it does appear to be an Eastern Pipistrelle. The tragus is short, blunt, and not obviously curved, it has yellowish fur, and seems to have reddish forearms. Not sure of it's overall size from the photo, but the Eastern Pip is also one of America's smallest bats.

[cloudman75]

Yes,
I agree that is most likely an Eastern pipistrelle. I saw one of these alone in the bat house last night . It was a very small bat. There are several of these I have seen this year. They are cute little fellows and one has spent the winter with me
in my west attic louver which is not blocked with plastic to keep the bats out. It likes to lie horizontal on the wood, I guess because it is warmer than hanging on the screen in cold weather. When it gets really cold a few times a winter here it leaves until the weather warms. What's happening in Iowa with your projects?


Frank

[IowaNate]

I am currently involved with the beginning stages of creating a bat house project in the city. I have some people helping me with this, and we are trying to convince the city to allow them for educational purposes and natural insect control since so many bats lost thier homes during the flood of 2008.