Hoary bats are large, dark-colored and heavily furred bats. The tip of their hair is white, giving the bat a frosted, or hoary appearance.

This is the most wide spread of all of the bats found in the United States; it occurs from Hawaii to Iceland to Bermuda and the Dominican Republic.

Hoary bats spend the summer days hidden in the foliage of trees. Much like the red bat, they choose a leafy site open beneath them, and usually 10-15 feet above the ground. Because hoary bats are solitary roosting bats and keep themselves well hidden, this species is usually never encountered by humans.

In the evening, the hoary bat emerges late, and like red bats, they may wake and fly during late after noon on warm winter days. Almost nothing is known of the feeding habits of this species, however it is suggested that hoary bats feed on moths, beetles, and mosquitoes. Hoary bats mate in the fall and like most bats do not become pregnant until early spring.

Parturition dates range from May to July; mother bats give birth to an average of two pups a summer. The mother leaves the young ones on a leaf or branch as she forages for insects in the evening. Occasionally, if there is a disturbance, she will move the pups from one tree to another. There have been reported cases of mother hoary bats grounded with the young ones still clinging to her, unable to fly with all the extra weight.