Red Bat (Lasiurus borealis)
The red bat is one of several species of bats found at Gateway. Like other bats, the red bat uses echolocation. To echolocate, bats emit a high pitched noise and then listen for the echoes, which the bat's brain automatically interprets to provide an image of its surroundings. Bats also have fairly acute vision, contrary to what some people believe. Using their senses and rapid flight, red bats spend the night hunting insects. During the day, red bats sleep in trees, where they may be mistaken for a dead leaf. Unlike other bats, red bats are usually solitary, but will flock together to migrate south in the autumn.