Galapagos Hoary Bat

Like its fellow resident, the Galápagos Red Bat, the Hoary Bats on the archipelago have not been well studied. The Hoary bat is found throughout North America, where it migrates south for winter. It’s thought that the Galápagos Hoary Bats stay in the islands all year round, where they feed at greater heights than the smaller Red Bats, although they chase similar prey - flies, cicadas, moths and so on - and like most bats they hunt at night using echolocation.

The Hoary Bat is so-called because its long, dense grey-brown fur is tipped with white - making the bat look like it as a covering of frost, or hoar. It’s one of the more attractive bat species, with this dense fur covering giving it an almost “cuddly” appearance!

Hoary bats don’t roost together in colonies, instead they prefer to roost in dense vegetation on their own, hanging upside down under the tree canopies. In the Galápagos they are best seen on the inhabited islands where, like the smaller Red Bat, they will hunt around the streetlights that attract their insect prey. If you are enjoying an overnight stay before or after your Galapatours cruise on either San Cristobal or Santa Cruz you may well have the chance to observe these creatures as you walk in the evenings.