Delaware's Bat Program
White-Nose Syndrome in Delaware
Bats hibernating at Fort Delaware and Fort DuPont State Parks were confirmed to have White-Nose Syndrome (WNS) in 2012.
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Delaware Bats
All things bats - species list, Delaware's research, facts and myths, and what to do if you find one in the wild!
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Volunteer
Join the Bat Spotters! Volunteers are needed statewide to adopt and monitor bat colonies.
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Acoustic Transects - call for details (302-735-8669) |
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Reporting Bats
Have bats or know where bats spend their days? Let us know! If you see bats flying through your neighborhood on summer nights, try to find their roost nearby
first, then report your find to the Division of Fish and Wildlife.
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Bat Colony ID - A new technique to identify bat colonies (contact 302-735-8669 for more details). CLICK HERE to view a helpful chart created by VT Fish & Wildlife. |
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Bats in Buildings
From one bat to many, information and resources for how to address bats in buildings such as helpful tips, times of year to avoid, and methods to bat-proof a
building responsibly. For concerns or instructions about rabies testing, call 866-972-9705.
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Bat Boxes
Provide backyard habitat and invite organic pest control! Instructions for providing bat habitat.
Be sure not to put your box on a tree - bats do not usually use boxes placed on trees!
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Contact Us
Questions, comments or inquiries can be directed to:
Holly Niederriter or Erin Adams by calling 302-735-8651
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Other Links
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Bats are one of the most mysterious and least understood groups of mammals.
Bats are the only mammals that can fly. Some of Delaware’s tree bat species migrate long distances from summer roosts to their wintering grounds, while our cave bat species fly to the caves and mines of other states to hibernate. In their travels, they have been known to fly over land, along coastlines and over water much like migrating birds. Each spring, our bats return and grow strong after the long drain of winter by feasting on Delaware’s insects.
Bats provide a valuable, organic service to people - we do not miss the mosquitoes, beetles, moths, and crop pests that little brown bats eat! In fact, to gain the energy needed to nurse their young, female bats can eat the equivalent of their body weight in insects each night. Having a lifespan of 5 to 20 years and raising only one pup per summer (some species have twins), bats are loyal and will return to the same roost every year.
Discover the bats of Delaware; the species we have, how to attract or safely evict them, get information about White Nose Syndrome, find out what the state is doing for bats, and how you can help!
