Paul Hormick

Mar 11, 2025 | batcon.org | Paul Hormick

03.11.25By Paul HormickWith a wingspan of almost two feet, the western mastiff bat (Eumops perotis) is the largest bat in the United States. This native to the American Southwest also likes to live large, in more ways than one. For one, the mastiff is a high flyer, commonly foraging at heights of 100 to 200 feet. Researchers and conservationists have even found mastiffs foraging as high as 2,000 feet above the ground.

Feb 6, 2025 | batcon.org | Paul Hormick

02.06.25By Paul Hormick As they have proven themselves to be among the most adaptable of mammals, a number of bat species have evolved to cope with the heat and lack of water in the world’s deserts. These bats have found ways to find shelter and catch prey in these challenging environments. In so doing, they fill ecological niches and sometimes aid humans in the parched parts of the world. Unsurprisingly, bats congregate around oases or other sources of freshwater in deserts.

Jan 10, 2025 | batcon.org | Paul Hormick

01.10.25By Paul HormickIf dogs are human’s best friend, cats are a close second. They fill our homes with companionship and cuddles. Yet some of our tabbies, tortoiseshells, and beloved furballs can also create problems for wildlife, including bats. All domestic cats that spend time outdoors, whether they are free roaming house cats, stray, or feral, pose a threat to wildlife and biodiversity, especially birds and small mammals.

Dec 6, 2024 | batcon.org | Paul Hormick

12.06.24By Paul Hormick A lot of bat species are insectivores. Other species eat fruit, while others visit flowers for nectar. And vampire bats have developed a taste for blood. Little known, however, are two species that specialize in fishing. The fish-eating myotis (Myotis vivesi) and the greater bulldog bat (Noctilio leporinus) have evolved flight and even feet that enable them to subsist mostly on fish.

Nov 14, 2024 | batcon.org | Paul Hormick

Home News Blog Native Beauty: The Hawaiian Hoary Bat11.14.24By Paul HormickHawaii is famous for tropical splendor, sunny beaches, and world class surfing. Less well known but every bit as wondrous are the Hawaiian hoary bats (Lasiurus semotus), the only land mammal native to the islands. The Hawaiians who first settled the islands called the bat ōpe‘ape‘a. The “pe‘a” at the end of the name refers to the shape of an outrigger canoe’s sail.