Gray Squirrel
Sciurus carolinensis

Habitat: The gray squirrel prefers upland hardwood forests but is often seen in urban parks and yards.

Weight: 1-1.5 pounds.

Length: 16-21 inches.

Food: Gray squirrels eat a variety of mast (hard fruit) including acorns, hickory nuts, beechnuts and butternuts, along with berries, mushrooms, maple seeds, and some field crops such as corn.

Identification: The gray squirrel is the largest and most common of the Connecticut squirrels. The back and sides of its coat are silver-gray in color and the underparts are white. Various color phases occur in this species, including several shades of black and red. Its broad, bushy tail is about the length of its head and body combined.

Range: Gray squirrels occur from southern Quebec, New Brunswick and Ontario to Florida, west into eastern Texas, and north into southern Manitoba. They have been introduced into Washington, British Columbia, and Vancouver Island.

Reproduction: Gray squirrels mate in late winter and spring. After a 44-day gestation period, females give birth to a litter of two to seven young. They are blind and helpless at birth but are weaned and somewhat independent at eight to 10 weeks of age. The second litter is usually born in July. The nest is often in a tree cavity or constructed of leaves suspended in the treetops. These leaf nests are also used for temporary protection against inclement weather or predators.

History in Connecticut: The gray squirrel has always been numerous throughout the state inhabiting deciduous woodlands, when abundant, yet able to adapt and disperse as these woodlands were cleared for houses, agriculture, and industry.

Interesting Facts: These tree-dwelling rodents are agile climbers and jumpers. They have keen senses of sight, smell, and hearing and are alert, nervous and wary, especially on the ground. When danger is near, they quickly retreat to the safety of the trees. Gray squirrels are somewhat sociable and can tolerate other squirrels nearby.

The gray squirrel is active year-round but needs tree cavities for shelter during harsh weather. In the fall, gray squirrels gather and bury, at random, a winter food supply. This food supply is usually recovered as needed, by sniffing the ground until a buried nut is found.

In a few years, populations of gray squirrels can change dramatically. During successive years of good acorn production, squirrel populations may reach high levels. If food supplies are low the population may decrease substantially. Historically, there have been reports of extensive migrations of squirrels. An extensive migration of gray squirrels in Connecticut was reported in 1933, when 1,000 or more swam across the Connecticut River between Hartford and Essex. Although the exact cause of these migrations is unknown, most likely it was a result of a limited food supply.

Information has been obtained from the Connecticut DEP website www.ct.gov/dep

Red Squirrel
Tamiasciurus hudsonicus

Habitat: The red squirrel prefers a mixed hardwood-conifer forest type. Evergreen trees such as spruce, hemlock, pine, or fir are almost always present within its range.

Weight: About 7 ounces.

Length: 11-14 inches.

Food: Red squirrels eat a variety of nuts, fruits, and seeds, but they prefer the green seeds of cone-bearing trees.

Identification: The red squirrel is a rather small-sized tree squirrel, only about half the size of the more common gray squirrel. It's bushy tail is somewhat slender and almost as long as the length of its head and body combined. The coat of the red squirrel is a rusty, reddish-brown in summer, turning slightly grayer in winter, and the underside is white. In summer, a black stripe is pronounced along its sides, separating the white underside from the reddish, upper body. Both males and females are about equal in size.

Range: Red squirrels occur throughout the northern United States and parts of Canada, south into the Appalachian Mountains. They are also found in the Rocky Mountains south to Arizona and New Mexico.

Reproduction: Red squirrels nest in ground burrows, tree cavities, and leaf nests. Mating takes place in late winter and spring. After a 36- to 40-day gestation period, about three to six young are born blind and helpless. Second litters have been reported in southern parts of the red squirrel's range, but are uncommon in Connecticut. The young red squirrels develop slowly and may remain with the female throughout the summer.

History in Connecticut: The red squirrel's reliance on hardwood/coniferous forests limits its distribution in Connecticut. However, it is considered a common Connecticut resident and has been through the years. It's population has declined somewhat with the cutting of white pine in the past and the elimination of other conifers (mainly as a result of disease) in some areas of the state.

Interesting Facts: These tree-dwelling rodents are agile climbers and jumpers. They have keen senses of sight, smell, and hearing and are alert, nervous and wary, especially on the ground. When danger is near, they quickly retreat to the safety of the trees.

Red squirrels are active year-round but will take shelter during harsh weather. In the fall, red squirrels will store their food for the winter in large underground caches. Sometimes they will bury their food at random just as the gray squirrel does.

Red squirrels are also known to tap sugar maple trees to harvest the sugar in the sap. They actually bite into the tree trunk to puncture the sap-carrying "vessel" (xylem), leave the tree to allow time for the water in the sap to evaporate, and come back to harvest the syrup remaining on the trunk and branches.

Red squirrels are unsociable, highly territorial, and aggressive. They will not tolerate their own or other squirrel species in their territories. They can also be very noisy and are sometimes nicknamed "chatter boxes."

Information has been obtained from the Connecticut DEP website www.ct.gov/dep

Raccoon
Procyon lotor

Habitat: Raccoons prefer wooded areas near streams, ponds and marshes but are highly adaptable and can live in close proximity to human developments and thrive in farmlands.

Weight: Most adults weigh 10 to 30 pounds, with males typically larger than females.

Length: 2 to 3 feet, including the tail.

Food: Raccoons are opportunistic and omnivorous. Their varied diet includes fleshy fruits, mast (especially acorns, hickory nuts and beechnuts), grains, invertebrates (particularly crayfish and insects), rodents, young rabbits, birds, bird's eggs, turtles, fish, carrion, garbage and crops such as corn.

Identification: The raccoon is a medium-sized mammal distinguished by a black mask across the eyes and cheeks and black rings around the bushy tail. The long, thick fur gives raccoons a typical gray-brown color, with variations ranging from sienna to silver. Other characteristics include short, pointed ears and a long, pointed snout.

Range: Raccoons range from Canada and throughout the United States (excluding the high elevations of the Rocky Mountains and much of the Southwest) into Mexico and Central America. They are common throughout Connecticut.

Reproduction: Raccoons breed in late winter or early spring; the males do not remain with the female after breeding. The young are born in April or May after a 63-day gestation period. Females produce one litter per year, with an average of four cubs per litter. The cubs are born blind, helpless and are covered with yellowish-gray fur. After 30 to 40 days, the cubs leave the den and will travel with the female for short distances to search for food. At three to four months, the cubs begin to forage on their own.

History in Connecticut: Since the late 1800s, Connecticut's expanding human population has probably benefited this opportunistic species; concentrations of people provide easy access to such food sources as garbage, gardens and bird feeders. Raccoons are now abundant in both urban and rural areas throughout Connecticut.

Interesting Facts: Raccoons are most closely related to the dog (Canidae) and bear (Ursidae) families. They have keen senses of hearing, sight and touch, but taste and smell are less well developed. Raccoons have dexterous feet, are excellent climbers and can descend a tree head first. They are extremely strong for their size.

Raccoons are primarily nocturnal but occasionally venture out in the daytime. In late fall and winter, raccoons may "den up" during the coldest periods; however, this is not true hibernation, and they will wander out during warm spells. The den is most often in a hollow tree, but raccoons will also use hollow logs, rock crevices, brush piles, buildings and abandoned woodchuck burrows, beaver lodges or fox dens.

Generally, raccoons are not social but some pairs and families do travel together.

The raccoon has been an economically important furbearer in Connecticut due to its abundance and pelt value. Raccoons are harvested each year during the regulated hunting and trapping seasons, providing recreation for many Connecticut sportsmen and helping to control local raccoon populations.

Raccoons, especially large populations, prey on birds and their nests. In Connecticut, they often raid bluebird boxes that are not protected with predator guards. They also are problematic for herons and egrets on offshore islands where repeated predation can cause abandonment of the entire colony.

Raccon Rabies: Since "raccoon rabies" reached Connecticut in March, 1991, thousands of raccoons have become infected. Other species, including dogs, cats, skunks, foxes, woodchucks and livestock, have also been infected. The following symptoms may indicate the presence of rabies, distemper or other diseases in raccoons or other mammals: unprovoked aggression, impaired movement, paralysis or lack of coordination, unusually friendly behavior and disorientation. Just because a nocturnal animal like the raccoon is active during daylight hours doesn't necessarily mean that it is sick. Raccoons often adjust their feeding schedules, especially in the spring when rearing their young. Contact with any wild or stray animal should be avoided, especially if it is behaving abnormally. Report sick or strange-acting animals to your local police, animal control officer or the DEP. For more information on rabies, contact your local health department.

Raccoons may also serve as host to a number of other disease pathogens which are transmissible to humans and domestic animals, including trichinosis, tuberculosis, round worm, infectious enteritis and coccidiosis.

Information has been obtained from the Connecticut DEP website www.ct.gov/dep

Woodchuck
Marmota monax

Habitat: Woodland edges, thickets and fields.

Weight: 5 to 10 pounds.

Length: 16 to 20 inches, and a 6-inch tail. Males are slightly larger than females.

Food: Succulent plants such as clover, alfalfa, garden vegetables and grasses. They will also eat tree leaves, buds and fruits.

Identification: Woodchucks are stocky mammals, with short, strong legs and a short, bushy, almost flattened tail. Their fur ranges from light to dark brown, with lighter guard hairs, giving them a frosted appearance. The ears can close over the ear openings to keep out debris while underground. The feet are dark brown to black; the front feet have long, curved claws for digging burrows.

Range: The woodchuck's range extends from eastern Alaska, through much of Canada, into eastern United States south to northern Georgia. Woodchucks are common throughout Connecticut.

Reproduction: Usually woodchucks breed in their second year, but a small percentage may breed as a yearling. The breeding season extends from early March to middle or late April following hibernation. A mated pair will remain in the same den through the 28- to 32-day gestation period. As birth of the young approaches in April or May, the male will leave the den. One litter is produced annually, usually containing two to six blind, naked and helpless young. Young woodchucks are weaned and ready to seek their own dens at five to six weeks of age.

History in Connecticut: Before the early settlers arrived in this country, most of Connecticut was forested land. Woodchucks lived in the scattered forest openings. As land was cleared for farms and houses, this highly adaptable animal also found suitable habitat in the fields and along the forest edge. The new habitat actually provided a more reliable source of food and the woodchuck is more abundant now than it was during Colonial times.

Interesting Facts: Classified as rodents, woodchucks, or groundhogs, are related to mice, squirrels, porcupines and beavers.

Woodchucks emit a shrill whistle when alarmed, followed by a chattering "tchuck, tchuck" sound.

Generally, raccoons are not social but some pairs and families do travel together.

Woodchucks are excellent diggers; they dig both simple and complex burrow systems, the depth and length depending on the type of soil. Most burrows are 25 to 30 feet long and from two to five feet deep, with at least two entrances. The main entrance is often the most conspicuous, with a large mound of freshly dug dirt nearby. The other, less visible entrances are used for escape purposes. A nesting chamber for sleeping and raising the young is found at the end of the main tunnel; a separate toilet chamber helps keep the burrow clean. Woodchucks may have two burrows: a winter den, in a wooded area, and also a summer den, in open flat or gently rolling areas.

During the warmer months, woodchucks are commonly seen in the early morning or late afternoon. During midday hours, they might sleep in the sun on rocks or logs near the safety of the burrow entrance. Even while feeding, they usually will not venture more than a few hundred yards away from the burrow entrance. Woodchucks rely on their keen hearing and sense of smell to give them enough time to escape to their dens when danger is near. They can be fierce fighters when cornered by their enemies, which include man, dogs, coyote, foxes, bear, hawks and owls, bobcat, mink and weasels.

The woodchuck is one of the few mammals classified as a true hibernator. During four to five months in winter, the heart, respiration and overall metabolism rates of true hibernators are greatly reduced and the animals are nourished from their fat reserves. Toward the end of summer, as cooler weather begins, woodchucks increase their feeding activity; a good layer of fat is essential for a long hibernation. By the end of October, most woodchucks have begun their winter sleep in nests of dried grass and leaves located in burrows well below the frost line. Woodchucks arise slowly from hibernation during February and March. Males usually awaken first and travel to nearby dens where females are hibernating to begin breeding.

Although woodchucks are primarily terrestrial, they can climb trees up to 15 feet or more to escape an enemy and to even feed on the berries and leaves of some trees such as red mulberry and hackberry; they also take to the water and are good swimmers.

The abandoned burrows of woodchucks are used for den sites or escape cover by a variety of wildlife, including skunks, raccoons, foxes, rabbits, opossums, weasels and snakes.

Information has been obtained from the Connecticut DEP website www.ct.gov/dep

Chipmunk
Tamias striatus

Habitat: The eastern chipmunk is found in deciduous forests, shrub habitat, forest edges, and suburban and urban areas where there is abundant cover to protect it from predators.

Weight: 2 to 5 ounces.

Length: 8 to 10 inches long (including the tail)

Food: Chipmunks are omnivores (they feed on both plants and animals). Their diet includes seeds, nuts, berries, fruits, flowers, mushrooms, insects, worms, snails, frogs, bird eggs, and small birds.

Identification: The eastern chipmunk is the only chipmunk found in Connecticut. It is reddish brown in color with a single black stripe running down the center of its back. A white stripe between two black stripes runs down each side of its body from the neck to the base of the tail. The chipmunk has a white underside and a white stripe above and below its eyes.

Range: The eastern chipmunk is found throughout the eastern United States, west to the Mississippi River and in southeastern Canada.

Reproduction: Chipmunks mate twice a year from February to April and again from June to August. Males and females come together only to mate. Females raise their young alone. After a gestation period of 31 days, a litter of 2 to 6 young is born (some litters may be as large as 9 young). Hairless, blind, and helpless, newborn chipmunks are about the size of a bumblebee. The young remain underground in the burrow for about 6 weeks. After approximately 8 to 10 weeks, they are fully independent and leave the female.

Interesting Facts: Chipmunks are an important food source for a number of predators including hawks, snakes, weasels, foxes, bobcats, raccoons, rats, owls, and coyotes. House cats also prey on chipmunks.

When chipmunks feed on plants and fungi, they help disperse the seeds of these organisms. Burrowing by chipmunks also may help aerate and recycle soil.

Chipmunks are most active in the early morning and late afternoon. Although they can climb trees, they spend most of their lives on the ground or underground in burrows that may reach 30 feet long and 3 feet deep. These burrow systems include nesting chambers and storage rooms for nuts and seeds that provide chipmunks with food throughout the winter. The burrow entrance usually measures two inches in diameter. Chipmunks remove the fresh dirt from the opening to avoid being conspicuous to predators. They fiercely guard their territory from other chipmunks.

Beginning in late October, chipmunks sleep for long periods throughout the winter but they do not hibernate. They occasionally wake to snack on stored nuts and seeds and may even come outside for brief periods of time on warm winter days.

Chipmunks are very vocal and make a variety of noises. They get their name from the "chip, chip" sound they make.

An enormous amount of food can be held in their cheek pouches, which can stretch to three times the size of the head. When gathering large nuts, chipmunks bite off sharp edges and stems.

Chipmunks have 5 toes on their front feet and 4 toes on their back feet.

Information has been obtained from the Connecticut DEP website www.ct.gov/dep

Cottontail Rabbits
New England Cottontail
Sylvilagus transitionalis
Eastern Cottontail
Sylvilagus floridanus

Habitat: Edges of open fields and meadows, areas of dense high grass, in wood thickets, along fence rows, forest edges, and the borders of marshy areas.

Weight: New England cottontail: 1.5-3 pounds; eastern cottontail: 1.8-3 pounds.

Length: New England cottontail: 14.2-18.8 inches; eastern cottontail: 14.8-18 inches.

Food: In summer, cottontails feed almost entirely on tender grasses and herbs; crops such as peas, beans, and lettuce are also eaten. In winter, bark, twigs, and buds of shrubs and young trees are eaten. Rabbits will also re-ingest their own fecal pellets, increasing their level of vitamins and minerals.

Identification: The cottontail rabbit is a somewhat stocky animal with large hind feet, long ears, and a short, fluffy tail that resembles a cotton ball. Its long, coarse coat varies in color from reddish-brown to a black or grayish-brown. The underparts are white. The New England cottontail and the eastern cottontail are almost identical in appearance, except for a slight variation in color. About half of the eastern cottontail population show a white, star-like shape on the forehead while none of the New England cottontails exhibit this trait. A comparison of the skull characteristics is the most reliable way to distinguish the two species.

Range: New England cottontail: New England west to the Hudson River and south down the Appalachian Mountains. Eastern cottontail: eastern United States and southern Canada south to eastern Mexico and into Central America; another population in Texas, New Mexico and Arizona. The eastern cottontail is more abundant and is expanding its range, while the New England cottontail's range is diminishing.

Reproduction: Breeding occurs from March through early fall. Females do not dig their own nest burrows, but rather scratch out a slight depression in the ground in an area of dense grass for concealment. The nest is lined with fur and dry grass. The gestation period is about 28 days. There are usually two to four litters per year with about three to eight young per litter. Young rabbits are born blind, naked, and helpless but grow rapidly, leaving the nest after only two to three weeks. They are weaned and totally independent at four to five weeks. On the average, 15% of the young will survive their first year. Adults are usually solitary by nature except when a female is caring for its young.

History in Connecticut: The eastern cottontail was introduced into New England in the late 1800s and early 1900s and since has been expanding its range, outcompeting the native New England cottontail for its habitat. In the mid-1930s, New England cottontails were still considered abundant and more numerous than the eastern cottontail. However, as agricultural areas reverted back to forest and these forests matured, populations of both species were reduced. Presently, the eastern cottontail is now the predominant species.

Interesting Facts: Cottontail rabbits are active all year long, foraging mainly at night. During the day they remain concealed in dense brush, protected from predators and harsh weather. In times of extreme weather conditions or to escape predators, rabbits will readily utilize an abandoned woodchuck burrow for protection. A rabbit's home range varies greatly with the quality of habitat, but generally averages about three acres for females and eight acres for males.

Cottontails have very keen sight and hearing. When danger is sensed, the animal will usually freeze in place until the danger has passed, but they will flush readily if approached too closely. Rabbits normally move slowly in short hops or jumps, but when frightened they can achieve speeds up to 18 miles per hour over a short distance. They often zig-zag to confuse a pursuing predator. Although they do not take to the water often, rabbits are good swimmers. They will thump the ground with their hind feet regularly, probably as a means of communication. When playing, breeding, or fighting they often make low purring, growling, or grunting sounds. If captured by a predator, the animal may produce a loud, shrill scream.

Because of its high productivity rate, the cottontail rabbit is an important link in the food chain and a principle prey item for many species. It is also a popular game species throughout its range. Depending on its availability, the cottontail can be considered a buffer prey species, meaning if rabbit numbers are high, predators will concentrate on them, thus reducing the pressure on other prey species.

Information has been obtained from the Connecticut DEP website www.ct.gov/dep

Eastern Striped Skunk
Mephitis mephitis

Habitat: Fields, fencerows, wooded ravines and rocky outcrops. May also be found under buildings, in culverts and near garbage dumps.

Weight: 6 to 14 pounds.

Length: 21 to 26 inches. Males are somewhat larger than females.

Food: Insects (especially grubs), small mammals, earthworms, snails, grains, nuts, fruits, reptiles, vegetation, amphibians, birds, eggs, carrion and garbage.

Identification: The eastern striped skunk's body is covered with fluffy black fur. It has a narrow white stripe up the middle of the forehead and a broad white area on the top of the head and neck, which usually divides into two stripes continuing along the back. The long, bushy tail is a mixture of white and black hairs. Some skunks have more white than black hairs. Skunks have a small head, small eyes and a pointed snout. Their short legs and flat-footed gait makes them appear to waddle when they walk. Sharp teeth and long claws enable them to dig in soil or sod and pull apart rotten logs in search of food.

Range: The eastern striped skunk occurs throughout southern Canada and all of the United States, except for arid areas in the Southwest, and in extreme northern Mexico. This mammal is common throughout Connecticut, although they are less common in the mountainous regions in the northwestern portion of the state.

Reproduction: Mating takes place during late February and early March. After a gestation period of 62 to 68 days, an average of six blind and helpless young are born between late April and early June. At three weeks of age, young skunks open their eyes and begin crawling. At seven weeks, they begin to venture out with the female and are able to spray musk; they usually disperse during the fall of their first year. Adult males are generally solitary except during the mating season.

History in Connecticut:The eastern striped skunk is adaptable to a wide range of habitats but prefers areas of open fields with low, brushy vegetation. Early farming in Connecticut probably increased the suitability of habitat for skunks. As farms were abandoned in the late 1800s, the reverting fields continued to provide good habitat. But as this habitat progressed to mature forest, it became less suitable for skunks. The ability of skunks to adapt to various habitats has been advantageous to their populations over the years. The skunk's adaptability allows it to live in urban and suburban areas with only remnants of undeveloped land.

Interesting Facts: The skunk is a member of the Mustelid family, which includes weasel, mink, marten, fisher and otter. Mephitis mephitis, the skunk's latin name, translates appropriately into "bad odor." All mustelids produce a strong smelling liquid from scent glands. However, the skunk is the only member which can spray its scent as a defense mechanism. The scent glands that provide this unique method of defense are deeply embedded in muscles located on either side of the rectum. These glands secrete a sticky, yellow fluid, the main component of which is butylmercaptan. The skunk is a good marksman and can spray accurately up to 10 feet or more. Skunks are mild tempered by nature and will not defend themselves by spraying unless they are provoked. They will usually stamp their front feet and arch their tail up over their back as a warning before spraying. If confronted by a skunk in this position, it is best to make a slow, quiet retreat. A skunk's spray is normally directed toward the eyes and may cause temporary blindness and nausea. Rinsing eyes with water will help restore vision. Tomato juice or diluted solutions of vinegar may eliminate most of the odor from people, pets and clothing. Clothing can also be soaked in weak solutions of bleach or ammonia.

Skunks are primarily nocturnal, although they are occasionally active during the day. They usually spend the daylight hours sleeping in their underground burrows. Skunks may dig their own burrows, but they prefer to use natural cavities among rocks, or under stone walls, logs or buildings. They will often use abandoned woodchuck burrows. Most burrows are six to 20 feet long and reach three to four feet underground, with two, three or four chambers. During winter, skunks sometimes den with other skunks.

Skunks are classified as a furbearer for which regulated trapping is allowed. The value of pelts and the level of harvest have fluctuated over the years. In the 1930s, skunk pelts were particularly valuable due to an increased fashion trend to wear fur garments and a decreased amount of fur available from other furbearing mammals.

Information has been obtained from the Connecticut DEP website www.ct.gov/dep

Bats
Chiroptera

Background Information: Bats are the only mammals capable of actual flight. Eight species of bats can be found in Connecticut:

• Little Brown Bat (Myotis lucifugus)
• Big Brown Bat (Eptesicus fuscus)
• Eastern Long-eared Bat (Myotis septentrionalis)
• Eastern Pipistrelle (Pipistrellus subflavus)
• Silver-haired Bat (Lasionycteris noctivagans)
• Hoary Bat (Lasiurus cinereus)
• Red Bat (Lasiurus borealis)
• Indiana Bat (Myotis sodalis)

The 2 most common bats in Connecticut are the little brown and big brown bats. The 6 remaining species are less common and seldom seen. Silver-haired, hoary and red bats are tree-roosting bats and are listed as Connecticut species of special concern. The state and federally endangered Indiana bat was recently found hibernating in Connecticut. No confirmed sightings of the eastern small-footed bat (Myotis leibii) have been recorded here in several decades. It is a Connecticut species of special concern.

Description: Bats are furred, warm-blooded mammals with body lengths of 3 to 6 inches and wingspans ranging from 8 to 16 inches. The bones in a bat's wing are similar to those in human arms and hands. The fingers are extended and connected by leathery, elastic skin that grows from the sides of a bat's body. Their thumbs are free from the wing membrane and have claws for grasping.

Bats have good eyesight and rely on vision for long-distance orientation. For short-distance navigation and catching food at night, they use echolocation. This sonar system helps bats, like dolphins, locate targets and background objects from the echoes of ultrasonic sounds. These ultrasonic sounds are given slowly when a bat is foraging and quicken as the bat pursues and captures an insect. Detection, pursuit and capture of an insect take about 1 second.

Connecticut's bats are primarily insect eaters. An exception is the hoary bat, which also eats other bats, namely the eastern pipistrelle. Bats are mostly nocturnal and almost always feed "on the wing." They use their wings, the skin around their tails and their mouths to catch insects in flight. Bats are the only major predators of night-flying insects, making them beneficial to man in several ways. They consume many agricultural pests such as cutworm and corn borer moths, potato beetles and grasshoppers. Mosquitoes and similar "people" pests are eliminated much more efficiently by bats than by birds or expensive bug zappers.

Interesting Bat Facts:

• In general, bats are not dangerous. Like any other mammal, they can carry rabies, although less than 1 percent of all bats are infected with the virus. More people die annually from dog attacks, bee stings, lightning and household accidents than from bat-transmitted rabies.
• Bats do not get caught in people's hair. Bats that swoop near people are usually after insects such as mosquitoes.
• A single little brown bat can eat 1200 mosquitoes in an hour.
• There are almost 1,000 different species of bats in the world, but only 8 are found in Connecticut.
• Only 3 species of bats feed on animal blood. These vampire bats prefer to drink cattle blood and are only found in Latin America.
• The smallest bat is the size of a small mouse; the largest, a fruit eater, has a 6-foot wingspan.
• Bats have varied diets: 70 percent eat insects; many tropical species eat fruit or drink flower nectar; some bats even catch frogs and fish.

Information has been obtained from the Connecticut DEP website www.ct.gov/dep