By River Stingray, The Aspen Times<\/p>\n
The first known occurrence of an evening bat was recorded in northern Colorado this month, something that is \u201cnot concerning but definitely interesting\u201d to Pitkin County, according to the county\u2019s Epidemiologist and Emergency Preparedness Coordinator Carlyn Porter.<\/p>\n
The evening bat (Nycticeius humeralis) was documented by Northern Colorado Wildlife Center after it was admitted under the assumption that it was a more common species. It is only the fourth evening bat recorded in the state, according to a press release.<\/p>\n
The identification was confirmed by collaboration with bat biologists from Colorado State University and the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvening bats are most commonly found in the southeastern and central United States,\u201d the release states. \u201cWith only three prior records statewide, their presence in Colorado remains exceptionally rare. The documentation of this individual in northern Colorado raises important questions about species distribution, potential range expansion, and the environmental factors that may influence wildlife movement.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI can say with a good deal of certainty that I\u2019ve never heard of an evening bat in Pitkin County,\u201d Porter said. \u201cBut that doesn\u2019t mean we don\u2019t have them.\u201d<\/p>\n
Read the full story from our partner at summitdaily.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n