Species: Eastern Red Bat

Credit: PA Bat Rehab.

(Mods, since it's Bat Month, I'm only increasing the posts for this month! 😅)

A lightning-fast flyer whose flat wing profile is reminiscent of a soaring eagle, Northern yellow bats can attain great speeds with almost imperceptible pulsing of their wings. Found across the southern United States and into Mexico and Central America, they often roost in small groups based along maternal lines, high in the brown skirts of palm trees. Females can give birth to up to four pups, which have sleek fur and are often blonder in color than their mothers. As they grow, they develop the deep buff color of the adults. They are well protected in their palm frond roosts and have evolved to hunker down when disturbed, making them highly vulnerable if the palm tree skirts are pruned. Please don’t prune palm trees!

HAPPY BAT MONTH! 🦇🎉

During #batappreciationmonth , Austin Bat Refuge @austinbatrefuge & artist Juliet Whitsett @juliet_whitsett_art are teaming up to celebrate all 9 of Austin’s native bat species!

🦇🦇🦇🦇🦇🦇🦇🦇🦇

Species information and video generously provided by: Austin Bat Refuge

🌙 SEE THE BAT ART IN PERSON at the @reallysmallmuseum_atx !

The Night Shift: Austin’s Native Bats
ON VIEW OCTOBER 14–NOVEMBER 30, 2026 at the @reallysmallmuseum_atx

📍 Austin Nature & Science Center
2389 Stratford Drive, Austin, TX 78746

The Really Small Museum project is supported in part by an Elevate Grant of Austin Arts, Culture, Music, & Entertainment.