Virginia Big-Eared Bat

Virginia State Bat

VA-big-eared-bat.jpg

Virginia big-eared bat - photo by Jeff Hajenga / U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Northeast Region (on Flickr - use permitted with attribution).

Official State Bat of Virginia

The endangered Virginia big-eared bat (Corynorhinus townsendii virginianus) was designated the official state bat of Virginia in 2005; this symbol helps to educate Virginians about caves and the creatures that inhabit them. Texas and Oklahoma also recognize bats as official state symbols. All State Mammals

Virginia big-eared bats are listed as state and federally endangered, mainly due to their small population and limited habitat and distribution.

Code of Virginia: § 7.1-40.7:1. Official Bat
Virginia

Images

States in which the Virginia big-eared bat is known to occur: KY, NC, VA, WV - public domain image from USFWS - Virginia big-eared bat (Corynorhinus (=Plecotus) townsendii virginianus)

Cluster of hibernating Virginia big-eared bats - photo by Craig Stihler / U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Northeast Region (on Flickr - use permitted with attribution).

Videos

Virginia's Endangered Rafinesque's Big-eared Bat