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Townsend's Big-eared Bat (Corynorhinus [=Plecotus] townsendii) 



Description: Easily distinguished from other bats in the region. A medium-sized (8-12 g) bat 

 with very long (30-39 mm) ears and two prominent masses on the lateral surface of the 

 snout between the eyes. Wings and tail membranes are hairless, dorsal pelage is 

 brownish with individual hairs grayish at the base and cinnamon to brownish at the tip. 



Distribution: In western North America, from southwestern Canada to southern Mexico east to 

 western Kansas, Oklahoma, and the Northern Great Plains; also in a narrow band in 

 northern Arkansas east to West Virginia. 



Habitat and Habits: Usually found associated with desert shrublands, pinyon-juniper woodlands, 

 and dry to wet coniferous forests. A cave dweller for both day roosts and hibemacula; 

 Lewis and Clark Caverns, Jefferson County, is a regular hibemaculum (Hof&nann and 

 Pattie 1968, Hoffinaim et al. 1969). Also frequently found in abandoned mines in central 

 and eastern Montana (Hof&naim et al. 1969, Swenson 1972, Swenson and Shanks 1979); 

 one individual was found in the Snowstorm Mine (Three Rivers District) on 8 September 

 1995. Overwinters regtilarly in British Coliunbia (Nagorsen et al. 1993). A colony was 

 found in late September in an abandoned farm house in Richland County, Montana 

 (Swenson and Shanks 1979). Females form maternity colonies in warmer parts of caves 

 and mines. Mating occurs in fall and winter. Disperses from large caves in late spring to 

 form maternity colonies in smaller caves and buildings. Emerges well after dark and is a 

 slow and agile flyer. In 1994-1995 this species was detected on the Kootenai National 

 Forest at two sites in Jidy, ten sites in August, and 24 sites in September (Appendix 3). 



Status: Uncommon in western and central Montana (Hof&nann and Pattie 1 968). Found 



throughout northwestern Montana, with specimens from Flathead and Sanders Counties 

 (Hof&nann er a/. 1969). Present in the Idaho panhandle (Groves and Marks 1985). This 

 species was found en all Disticts durirg the 1994-199'^ surveys (Appendix 4). 

 Townsend's big-eared bat is listed by the U. S. Forest Service (Region 1) as Sensitive. 



Natural Heritage Program rank: G4; S2S3 on Species of Special Concern list for Montana. 



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