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Bat (California myotis)

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Myotis californicus

Range

They live in the western North America from southern Alaska and southwestern Canada, through the western U.S. to southern Mexico.

Habitat

They live in a wide range of habitats from forests to grasslands and dry scrublands.

Body Traits

They are one of the smaller North American bats weighing less than 1/5 of an ounce. The fur can be brown to reddish-orange in color. Their wings and tail membranes (uropatagium) are black. Their ears are long and black in color.

Habits

They come out to hunt for insects at dusk and dawn using echolocation. During the day, they roost in cracks in rocks, under the bark of trees, or in abandoned building. In the winter, they hibernate underground in mines or caves.

Diet

They eat moths, flies and other flying insects.

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Reproduction

Females gather in small breeding colonies in the spring and give birth to a single baby (pup) in June-July. Males do not help with young.

Lifespan and/or Conservation Status

They have been affected by white-nose syndrome, a deadly fungal disease that has hurt so many North American bat species. Though they are listed on the IUCN Red list as "least concern" the fungal disease may affect their long term populations.

Classification

Kingdom:     Animalia
Phylum:     Chordata
Class:     Mammalia
Order:     Chiroptera
Family:     Vespertilionidae
Genus:     Myotis
Species:     M. californicus

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