How many bats live in a colony?

The number of bats living in a colony can vary greatly depending on the species and location. Some bat species form small colonies of just a few individuals, while others form large colonies that can number in the hundreds or even thousands. For example:

- Big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus): These bats often form colonies in buildings, with colony sizes ranging from a few dozen to several hundred individuals.

- Mexican free-tailed bats (Tadarida brasiliensis): This species is known for forming extremely large colonies, with some colonies estimated to contain over a million individuals.

- Vampire bats (Desmodus rotundus): These bats live in colonies that typically range from 20 to 100 individuals.

- Pallid bats (Antrozous pallidus): These bats typically live in colonies of 10 to 50 individuals, but larger colonies of up to 100 individuals have also been observed.

- Hoary bats (Lasiurus cinereus): These bats are solitary for most of the year, but they may form small colonies during the winter.

It's worth noting that colony size can also vary within a species, depending on factors such as the availability of roosting sites and food resources.