RANGE:

Western North America from southern British Columbia east to South Dakota, south into Mexico and west to California. This species, uncommon in Idaho, has been collected or observed in Boise, Butte, Clearwater, Latta, Nez Perce, Owyhee, and Shoshone Counties.

DESCRIPTION:

The dorsal upper fur is often reddish-brown, the rounded ears long (3/4 inch=16-20 mm), the tragus long and pointed and the tail membrane distinctly fringed. Occasionally, this species might be confused with Myotis evotis as a result of individuals with a very few hairs along the margin of the tail membrane.

HABITAT:

Desert, oak and pinon-juniper woodlands (where most common) and coniferous or mixed deciduous forest usually in mid elevations. The wing membranes and food habits suggests this bat has a foraging strategy permitting gleaning of insects from vegetative surfaces. Individuals may change roost sites as a result of disturbance.

DIET:

Small beetles, harvestmen, crickets, crane flies, spiders and true bugs.

ECOLOGY:

This species occurs in a large number of roosting conditions including snags, hollows in trees, buildings, mines, rock crevices, and bridges. Females and males separate during pup rearing. On the basis of studies completed outside of Idaho, this species appears to be rare, a condition that made the fringed myotis a former Category 2 candidate species.

REPRODUCTION:

Reproduction begins upon break-up of maternity colonies which appear to be located in cool wet conditions. Ovulation, and implantation occurs from April to May. Fifty to 60 days later a single young is born in late June or early July.

IMPORTANT STATE REFERENCE:

Keller, B.L. 1999. Thermal characteristics of lava caves in the North caves area and bat species present at pond cave, Craters of the Moon National Monument, Butte County, Idaho. National Park Service, Craters of the Moon National Monument, Arco, Idaho. 78p.