Do Michigan bats fly south for the winter?
There are three different categories of migrant bats:
Sedentary Bats: The Big Brown Bat of SE Michigan does not fly South for the winter. They may migrate from a summer home to a winter home, however, the migration is usually less than 30 miles. They may simply move down the street to a more suitable home.
Regional Migrants: The Little Brown Bat is an example of a regional migrant. This species migrates from its summer roost to a cave or mine. They may travel up to 300 miles to the winter hibernacula.
Long Distance Migrants: The Red Bat is an example of a long distance migrant. This species is a solitary bat that lives in trees. In order to escape the cold, they must migrate over 600 miles to their winter destination.