Description
This bat has dark brown to dark gray fur, wrinkled lips and large, rounded ears. The wings are long and narrow. The tail of “free-tailed bats” extends past the edge of the tail membrane; the Mexican free-tailed bat’s tail is 1-1.5 inches long.
Size
This bat is 3.5 to 4.25 inches long.
Habitat
Mexican free-tailed bats are largely found in caves, but may utilize mines, tunnels, and bridges. Maternity caves typically have high ceilings (more than 25 foot), large entrances, and tend to be warm. All known maternity caves in Oklahoma are found in gypsum formations. This species can be found in the western two-thirds of Oklahoma.
Life Cycle
These bats are highly migratory, spending fall and winter in Mexico and returning to the southern United States in spring. Females are pregnant when they reach their maternity caves, where they gather in large numbers. They give birth to a single pup in late June, and young bats are able to fly six weeks later. Males that migrate to the United States form separate bachelor colonies. Mexican free-tailed bats feed while in flight, primarily on small, flying insects like moths, small wasps, and leaf beetles.
