Tricolored Bat
Perimyotis subflavus
The Tricolored Bat is one of Florida's smallest bats, recognized by hairs that are dark at the base, pale in the middle, and dark at the tip.
This tiny bat forages along forest edges, waterways, and open areas, taking small flying insects. Florida roosts include foliage, tree cavities, bridges, culverts, and buildings.
White-nose syndrome has caused severe declines elsewhere, and the species remains proposed for federal endangered listing.
Habitat:
Forests and Woodlands, Urban and Residential Areas, Rivers and Springs
Area / Range:
Statewide
Diet:
It eats mosquitoes, moths, beetles, caddisflies, midges, and other small flying insects.
Behavior:
It emerges near dusk, flies with an erratic fluttering pattern, and often forages repeatedly along water or woodland edges. Individuals may roost alone or in small groups.
Night, Dusk
Active Times:
Best time to see:
Just after sunset over ponds, streams, forest edges, and open yards, without approaching roosts.
Florida Native Status:
Native
Conservation Status:
Proposed for federal endangered listing due to major range-wide declines from white-nose syndrome and other threats. Florida remains important to its southern range.
Safety Level:
Use Caution
Safety Information:
Never handle a bat bare-handed. Keep people and pets away, contain a grounded bat without direct contact, and contact animal control or a wildlife rehabilitator. Seek medical advice after any possible bite or contact.
Benefits to Property:
It consumes large numbers of night-flying insects and contributes to healthy forest and wetland food webs.
Property Concerns:
A bat may occasionally roost in a structure. Use seasonal humane exclusion by a qualified professional and never seal an occupied roost.
Fun Fact:
The name refers to the three color bands on each hair rather than three different colors across the body.
Wildlife Laws:
Florida bats are protected wildlife. Exclusion and removal must follow FWC rules, including seasonal maternity protections. Federal status should be checked before projects that affect roosts.
Identification:
Look for a very small bat with rounded ears, pinkish forearms, and yellowish to reddish-brown fur. Individual back hairs show three distinct color bands when viewed closely by trained handlers.