RANGE:

A western distribution including British Columbia east across southern Canada to Saskatchewan, south along the western edge of the Dakotas Nebraska, much of Colorado and New Mexico, west across northern Arizona, Nevada, to the Pacific Coast from Baja California, through California, Oregon and Washington. It has been collected in fifteen Idaho counties but likely occurs in most of the Gem State.

DESCRIPTION:

The upper fur is brownish at the tips and dark at the base. The dark to blackish glossy rounded ears extend past the nostrils and can exceed three-quarters of an inch (=20mm). The tragus is extends over one-half of the length of the ear.

HABITAT:

This bat is found in a wide range of habitats often associated with forests. It is found under exfoliating bark, in cavities in trees, and in stumps resulting from logging. In shrub communities, is may be found in crevices in cliffs and rocks on the ground, in lava-tube caves, and abandoned mines. It has also been found occasionally in buildings and under bridges.

DIET:

Primarily moths and beetles but other insects including lacewings, true bugs, wasps and bees are eaten. This species may glean insects from the surface of a variety of desert shrubs but it also occurs and feeds in coniferous forests.

ECOLOGY:

In northern Idaho, long-eared myotis appear to feed near the back of mines, especially at the portal. They do not seem to use these mines for night roosting or winter hibernation. A few to a moderate number of individuals are often associated with areas adjacent to reservoirs or streams containing areas of slow-moving water. Small nursery colonies containing females and young form. Nonbreeding small mixed sex colonies are also known to occur during summer. More information on winter roosting ecology is needed for this species.

REPRODUCTION:

Swarming and mating take place prior to hibernation and sperm is stored over winter. Fertilization ensues when ovulation occurs in the spring. A single pup is born, as late as mid July in northern Idaho. Each pup weights about 20 percent of the body mass of the female.

IMPORTANT STATE REFERENCE:

Keller, B.L. and R.W. Doering. 1995. The status of bat populations in the Idaho Panhandle National Forests. Department of Biological Sciences, Idaho State University, Pocatello. 34pp.