Species Present on the Sioux District, Custer National Forest 



Long-eared Myotis {Myotis evotis) 



Description: The ears of this bat are heavily pigmented (black and opaque) and are the longest 

 (17-25 mm) of any American myotis; when pressed forward, ears extend >5 mm 

 beyond the nose. Fur is long and glossy above, paler below. Posterior border of the 

 uropatagium lacks a conspicuous fringe of hair. Weighs 6-8 g. 



Distribution: Ranges over much of the western North America from southern Canada south to 

 New Mexico, Arizona, and southern California. 



Habitat and Habits: This species is especially common in ponderosa pine habitat, locally 

 associated with pine-covered buttes and other broken terrain. Uses sheds, cabins, 

 caves, and abandoned mines for roosting sites; hibernacula are poorly known, but 

 abandoned coal mines have been used in northeastern Montana (Swenson and Shanks 

 1979). Females apparently form small maternity colonies, though this is poorly 

 documented. Females with embryos and males with enlarged testes have been collected 

 in late June to early July in Carter County, MT (Jones et al. 1973); females in late May 

 to mid-June carried embryos in Harding County. SD (Andersen and Jones 1971). This 

 species is often encountered at late dusk hunting among trees and over water. In 1994, 

 this species was detected on 15 June at Wickham Campground in the Long Pines and 

 on 28 September on a rim edge in the South Cave Hills (Appendix B3). 



Status: Considered fairly common on the Sioux District (Andersen and Jones 1971, Jones et 

 al. 1973). This species has been recorded from Chalk Buttes, Ekalaka Hills, the Long 

 Pines, South Cave Hills, and Slim Buttes (Appendix B4). The Long-eared Myotis is a 

 U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service candidate (C2) species for federal listing. 



Natural Heritage Program rank: G5; S4 in Montana. SI in South Dakota. 



