Northern Yellow Bat
(Lasiurus intermedius)
Lasiurus intermedius, commonly known as the northern yellow bat, ranges in color from a yellowish-orange to brown, and in some individuals even gray. They can reach a size, from nose to tail, of up to 5 inches with a wingspan of up to 16 inches. They are a species that is sexually dimorphic, meaning that the females are larger in size than the males. Their geographical range is smaller than other bats, sticking to areas that can support the growth of Spanish moss and palms.
They are found in the gulf coast area of Central and North America. They inhabit areas of eastern Mexico and Honduras up to Texas, Louisiana, Florida, and South Carolina. These insectivores roost within the Spanish moss or underneath the dead fronds of palm trees of these regions. They do not migrate because of the warm weather throughout their range, but will instead enter a torpor state during times of cold weather.
They are solitary bats, but females will join together in maternity colonies to raise their young. They mate in the fall and, via delayed reproduction, the females do not give birth until late May or June. The females store the sperm until the springtime, around March or April, when it is prime to become fertile.