Virginia Big-eared Bat
This medium-sized brown bat roosts in a small number of Appalachian caves and forages over forest and field edges, detecting moths with sensitive echolocation.
Artwork inspired by William Robinson Leigh
The ears can exceed an inch and are often curled beside the head during rest. Broad wings support maneuverable flight, while quiet echolocation helps approach moths that can hear louder bat calls.
Because colonies concentrate in very few caves, a single disturbance can affect a large fraction of the population. Gates, protected cave ownership, forested foraging areas, and respectful winter closures are essential.
- Status
- Federally endangered
- Diet
- Mostly moths
- State role
- West Virginia state bat
Quick guide
- Spotting window
- Dusk above quiet forest and field edges.
- Nonnegotiable
- Respect every cave closure and protected roost.
Recognize it through habitat and behavior
- Never enter roost caves
- Human disturbance can abandon young or waste winter energy.
- Watch open edges
- Legal dusk viewing may reveal slow maneuverable flight.
- Use ear shape carefully
- Resting bats can curl their ears out of view.
- Protect darkness
- Avoid lights and noise near known emergence areas.
Good to know
Never enter, approach, illuminate, or disclose maternity and hibernation sites. Cave closures protect bats from disturbance and disease; observe only from lawful public areas.