The only mammals capable of true flight, bats are among the world's most fascinating creatures. This accessible guide to the forty-seven species of bats found in the United States and Canada captures and explains the amazing diversity of these marvels of evolution. A wide variety of bat species live in the United States and Canada, ranging from the California leaf-nosed bat to the Florida bonneted bat, from the eastern small-footed bat to the northern long-eared bat. The authors provide an overview of bat classification, biology, feeding behavior, habitats, migration, and reproduction. They discuss the ever-increasing danger bats face from destruction of habitat, wind turbines, chemical toxicants, and devastating diseases like white-nose syndrome, which is killing millions of cave bats in North America. Illustrated species accounts include range maps and useful identification tips. Written by three of the world's leading bat experts and featuring J. Scott Altenbach's stunning photographs, this fact-filled and easy-to-use book is the most comprehensive and up-to-date account of bats in the U.S. and Canada.

Table of Contents:
Preface Acknowledgments Introduction Classification Biology Echolocations Benefits of Insectivorous Bats Foraging Feeding Behavior Noninsectivorous Bats Vampire Bats Guano Summer Habitat Summer–Autumn Swarming Winter Habitat and Hibernation Migration Homing Ability Reproduction and Longevity Bats as Food Bat "Bombs" Mines and Bridges Controlling "Nuisance" Bats Attracting Bats Threats to Bats Rabies Histoplasmosis Bats and Wind Power White-nose Syndrome Conservation Status of Bats in the United States and Canada Endangered Species and Subspecies Research Techniques Inventories Thermal Imaging Nets and Traps Bat Banding Radiotelemetry Acoustic Identification Additional Techniques Species Accounts Mexican Long-tongued Bat, Choeronycteris mexicana Mexican Long-nosed Bat, Leptonycteris nivalis Lesser Long-nosed Bat, Leptonycteris yerbabuenae California Leaf-nosed Bat, Macrotus californicus Jamaican Fruit-eating Bat, Artibeus jamaicensis Peter's Ghost-faced Bat, Mormoops megalophylla Florida Bonneted Bat, Eumops floridanus Greater Bonneted Bat, Eumops perotis Underwood's Bonneted Bat, Eumops underwoodi Pallas' Mastiff Bat, Molossus molossus Pocketed Free-tailed Bat, Nyctinomops femorosaccus Big Free-tailed Bat, Nyctinomops macrotis Brazilian Free-tailed Bat, Tadarida brasiliensis Big Brown Bat, Eptesicus fuscus Western Red Bat, Lasiurus blossevillii Eastern Red Bat, Lasiurus borealis Hoary Bat, Lasiurus cinereus Southern Yellow Bat, Lasiurus ega Northern Yellow Bat, Lasiurus intermedius Seminole Bat, Lasiurus seminolus Western Yellow Bat, Lasiurus xanthinus Evening Bat, Nycticeius humeralis Canyon Bat, Parastrellus hesperus Tri-colored Bat, Perimyotis subflavus Rafinesque's Big-eared Bat, Corynorhinus rafinesquii Townsend's Big-eared Bat, Corynorhinus townsendii Spotted Bat, Euderma maculatum Allen's Big-eared Bat, Idionycteris phyllotis Pallid Bat, Antrozous pallidus Silver-haired Bat, Lasionycteris noctivagans Southwestern Bat, Myotis auriculus Southeastern Bat, Myotis austroriparius California Bat, Myotis californicus Western Small-footed Bat, Myotis ciliolabrum Long-eared Bat, Myotis evotis Gray Bat, Myotis grisescens Keen's Bat, Myotis keenii Eastern Small-footed Bat, Myotis leibii Little Brown Bat, Myotis lucifugus Dark-nosed Small-footed Bat, Myotis melanorhinus Arizona Bat, Myotis occultus Northern Long-eared Bat, Myotis septentrionalis Indiana Bat, Myotis sodalis Fringed Bat, Myotis thysanodes Cave Bat, Myotis velifer Long-legged Bat, Myotis volans Yuma Bat, Myotis yumanensis Species of Accidental Occurrence Hairy-legged Vampire Bat, Diphylla ecaudata Buffy Flower Bat, Erophylla sezekorni Cuban Flower Bat, Phyllonycteris poeyi Cuban Fig-eating Bat, Phyllops falcatus Summary Appendix: Bats of the United States and Canada (Including Protection Status) Index