Townsend's Big-eared Bat {Plecolus 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 slirublands, pinyon-juniper woodlands, 

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

 Lewis and Clark Caverns, Jefferson County, is a regular hibemaculum (Hoffmann and 

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

 and eastern Montana (Hoffmann et al. 1969, Swenson 1972, Swenson and Shanks 1979). 

 Overwinters regularly in British Columbia (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, this species was detected on the Kootenai National Forest at one 

 site in July, four sites in August, and 12 sites in September (Appendix 3). 



Status: Uncommon in western and central Montana (Hoffmann and Pattie 1968). Found 



throughout northwestern Montana, with specimens from Flathead and Sanders Counties 

 (Hoffmann t^/ c//. 1969). Present in the Idaho panliandle (Groves and Marks 1985). This 

 species was found on the Kootenai National Forest on the Cabinet, Fortine, Libby, and 

 Three Rivers Districts in 1994 (Appendix 4). Townsend's Big-eared Bat is a U. S. Fish 

 and Wildlife Service candidate (C2) species for federal listing, and has U. S. Forest 

 Service Sensitive status. 



Natural Heritage Program rank: G4; S2. 



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