Myotis ciliolabrum
Range
They are found in the southern region of the western Canadian provinces (BC, Alberta, and Saskatchewan), south through the western coast of the US and Mexico. They are also locally found in the Rockies in Montana.
Habitat
They roost in rocky cliffs near waterways where insects breed. They may also roost under bridges, in caves, mines, and abandoned buildings. They usually roost alone, but do gather in large groups in colder weather.
Body Traits
They are about 3.5 inches long (85 mm). Their wingspan is up to 9.5 inches (245 mm). Females are larger than males. Their fur is tan to yellow with a lighter underside. They have a dark face, ears, and forearms. Their ears are relatively large at more than half an inch long (16 mm). They also have a thin tragus that is about half as tall as the ear. Their feet have a spur (called a keeled calcar).
Habits
Females roost alone or in a small maternal group. Generally, they are solitary roosters and they change roosts sites as needed. They come out at sunset to hunt. They can hunt visually in the light and using echolocation after dark. They are seen during day light hours occasionally.
Diet
They eat available insects, often beetles.
Predators
Because of their habit of emerging in daylight, they are eaten by jays.
Reproduction
They mate in the fall, but females store the sperm until spring (June – July in their northern range) when they become pregnant for about 1-2 months (gestation). They have 1-2 offspring (pup) but commonly just one. They nurse the pups for about five weeks.
Lifespan and/or Conservation Status
Their lifespan is unknown.They are considered least concern by the IUCN List, but are threatened in some places by pesticides, damming of their insect-breeding streams, and habitat loss. They are endangered in their temperate North American range from white nose syndrome, a fungal infection that wakes them from hibernation, using all their reserve energy before their food source is available.
Classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Chiroptera
Family: Vespertilionidae
Genus: Myotis
Species: Myotis ciliolabrum