Big Brown Bat Colony Cam

A Hidden Roost in the Rafters

Mounted high inside a working barn on the Westmoreland Land Trust's Schwarz Farm property, this camera is trained on the roof crest where big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus) cluster together against the wooden beams and corrugated metal roofing. The barn's warm, sheltered upper structure offers an ideal daytime refuge for the colony.

Life of the Colony

Big brown bats are among the most common bat species in the eastern United States and play a vital ecological role, consuming large numbers of insects as part of their diet and helping to naturally regulate local insect populations. The feed offers a glimpse of their roosting behavior and social clustering, along with seasonal activity such as the raising of pups during warmer months.

Conservation Through Observation

This camera is part of a broader Westmoreland Land Trust initiative pairing wildlife conservation with public education. Bat populations across North America face pressure from habitat loss and disease, and a live window into an active roost helps visitors understand and appreciate these often-misunderstood mammals.