Native Animal of the Month: Townshed’s Big Eared Bat

Townsend’s Big-eared Bat – Corynorhinus townsendiiThis aptly named bat has long and flexible ears (usually around 1.5 inches). The Corynorhinus townsendii is a very small mammal; usually only about 4 inches in length and 2 inches tall. Its wingspan, though, averages around 11 inches. One study found that an average Townshed’s big-eared bat lives to be 16 years old. 

If you struggle from moth invasions, this bat could be your friend and natural pesticide! They love munching on moths but also flies, dung beetles, and lacewings. Between nightfall and dawn, they feed two to three periods in the dark and rest during the day. Another fact that makes this animal unique is that they are a whisper bat. This means that they echolocate at a much lower intensity compared to other bats and are harder to record with a bat detector. A reason that this bat is quiet may be because some moths can hear bats, so the Corynorhinus townsendii must “whisper” to hunt them. 
Despite their small size, they prefer large places for roosting like caves or abandoned buildings. They mate in late fall and hibernate in clusters during the winter to stay warm. Bats gestate in their mothers for 1.5 to 2 months and are born with the ability to fly. In the summer, the females and males live separately. Each mother usually only has one baby, but the females create maternity colonies of 12 to 200 to raise pups.  
To help create safe places for all types of bats, start by educating your friends and family about their benefits. In our bat class, on October 12th, we will teach bat biology, identification, and conservation. Then we will construct bat boxes to take home! This class is currently full, but register on our website to put your name on the wait list. 

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