New Bat Species Found In Minnesota

ARDEN HILLS - A new species of bat has been found in Minnesota. The Minnesota DNR says the "evening bat" was caught in early July at the Minnesota Army National Guard's Training site in Arden Hills.

Normally the evening bat is only found in central Iowa. The DNR is not sure if this was an isolated individual bat blown north in a storm, or if the species has expanded its range into Minnesota.

Mammal species new to the state are extremely rare, with the most recent being a shrew in 1991.

Minnesota has seven species of bats native to our state.