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California Now Has a State Bat
The Pallid Bat is California's newest state animal.
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California Department of Fish and Wildlife
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What do a frog, a bat, and a butterfly have in common? They're all members of California's list of state animals.
Beginning in 2024, the pallid bat becomes the official state bat after Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Senate bill 732.
Why choose a state bat
Burbank congress member Caroline Menjivar sponsored the bill, which states that bats have provided California with more than $1 billion worth of pest control to the state's agricultural land. They've also helped reduce the state's fire risk with their consumption of bark beetles and wood borers.
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What a pallid bat looks like
The species, also known as Antrozus pallidus, can be found in the desert, oak woodlands, coastal redwood forests, and in the pine forests of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. It has tan fur, a white underbelly, large ears, a pig-like snout, small eyes, and a wingspan of up to 16 inches.
The pallid bat is preyed on by ground predators like foxes, raccoons, snakes, cats, and large amphibians. Unlike a lot of other bat species, it can catch its prey on the ground as well as in the air.
The pallid bat joins California's long list of state symbols, including the California grizzly as the state animal and the California gray whale as the official state marine mammal.
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