10/16/2026
It’s bats! We love Halloween.
The Northern long-eared bat gets its name from their ears that when flattened, extend past the tip of their nose! Like other bats, they are nocturnal, meaning that they are primarily active at night, pre-dawn, and dusk. During the day, they will sleep roosted in mature, interior forests and uplands that surround the Peconic Estuary.
The northern long-eared bat is listed as an ‘Endangered’ species in New York state, having declined approximately 99% since the ‘white-nose syndrome’ has wiped out most of the New York state population by causing extensive damage to their wings and inhibiting their ability to properly forage for food. However, improper timber management, habitat fragmentation, and increased sensitivity to environmental toxins has also contributed to the decline of the northern long-eared bat.
Scientists, conservation groups, and citizen science initiatives around the Peconic Estuary and in the Central Pine Barrens work diligently to protect the population of these spooky bats. If you want to aid in the Northern long-eared bat conservation efforts, please report any observations of these critters you may seen to the
iSeatuck Environmental Association's BatMap Long Island!
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