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Big Brown Bat (Eptesicus fuscus).
Date of admission: October 1, 2026.
Reason for admission: Physical Injury.
Patient History:
One of nine bat species found in Alberta, the Big Brown Bat is a year-round resident and one of Canada’s larger bat species. Typically measuring 9–14 centimetres in body length and weighing 11–25 grams, these bats have rich brown fur, a broad snout, and powerful wings that help them navigate their surroundings with remarkable agility. They are highly adaptable and can thrive in a variety of habitats, including forests, grasslands, agricultural areas, wetlands, and urban neighbourhoods, provided they have access to suitable roosts and food.
Big Brown Bats are insectivores, feeding on a wide range of insects, including beetles, moths, and flying ants. They hunt at night, using echolocation to navigate in darkness and locate prey. By emitting high-frequency sounds and listening for the returning echoes, they can detect and capture tiny insects while in flight. This makes them valuable neighbours, helping control insect populations in both natural and agricultural environments.
As year-round Alberta residents, Big Brown Bats have an incredible strategy for surviving our cold winters. When insects become scarce, they seek sheltered places to hibernate, including caves, rock crevices, and suitable buildings. During hibernation, they enter a dormant state called torpor, lowering their body temperature, slowing their breathing, and reducing their metabolism to conserve precious energy. They periodically arouse from torpor, but each awakening uses significant energy, making stable, undisturbed hibernation sites especially important to their survival. Big Brown Bats mate in the fall, but pregnancy is delayed until spring through a process known as delayed fertilization. This timing allows pups to be born in late spring or early summer, when warmer temperatures and abundant insects provide ideal conditions for growth. Female bats often gather in maternity colonies to raise their young, giving pups the warmth and protection they need during their early weeks of life.
This male Big Brown Bat was brought to AIWC after being found on a window in Didsbury. During his initial examination, our team discovered significant bruising on his left wing. Although the exact cause of his injury is unknown, the finder suspected he may have been sheltering inside a motorized awning and was injured when it opened. He is now receiving care and monitoring while his wing heals. Once he has recovered and can fly safely, he can be assessed for release back into the wild. Thank you for helping this resilient little bat heal and allowing him to return to his nighttime insect-hunting adventures in the wild!