Eastern red bats roost alone in foliage, where their rusty fur can resemble a dead leaf, and emerge to feed over clearings, marsh edges, and tree-lined paths. Prudence Island and the wooded margins of Ninigret and Trustom Pond refuges offer useful places to watch the evening sky rather than trying to locate a concealed daytime roost.
Rhode Island records are concentrated from July through September, consistent with peak summer activity and autumn movement; isolated off-season records should be interpreted cautiously. Begin watching about sunset for a fast, maneuverable bat, but remember that confident species identification usually requires acoustic data or close diagnostic photographs.
Full species profile
