Fringed Myotis Bat 

(Myotis Thysanodes)

PHOTOS BY MERLIN TUTTLE

Fur is light brown on back and off-white underparts. One of the larger species of the Myotisgenus.
Weight: Avg. 6 g Length: Avg. 85 mm
Range: Found across the western United States; found as far east as Texas, far north as British Columbia, and as far south as Mexico.
Status:
Primary Prey: Feeds mainly on beetles and other insects that appear in the late evening.
Behavior:
• Clutter specialist
• Highly maneuverable flight; forage close to vegetative canopy.
• Highly migratory species that roosts in caves, mine tunnels, rock crevices, and old buildings.
• Winter habitat is largely unknown.
• Female “nurse bats” remain at the roost to care for the young while other adults are out foraging.
•Bats can eat hundreds of pounds of insects each night that they forage. They are of great interest to farmers
for this role in preventing crop destruction by the insects without the use of harmful chemicals and pesticides.
Offspring: 1 pup.
Gestation (pregnancy): 50-60 days
Lifespan: Avg. 18.3 years