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Southeastern Bat 
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Scientific name:
Myotis austroriparius.
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Weight 5-8
grams.
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Wingspan:
24-27 centimeters.
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Distribution:
Southeastern United States from southern Illinois and Indiana to
northeastern Texas and northern Florida.
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Ecology and
Behavior: Caves are favorite roosting sites, although buildings and
other shelters are sometimes used. Maternity colonies comprised of
thousands of individuals inhabit caves. Throughout much of the South,
these bats reside in buildings and hollow trees, in the northern part of
their range they roost primarily in caves. Predators include opossums,
snakes, and owls, but by destruction of roosting sites and killing of
these bats humans probably are the major threat to the species.
Southeastern bats are usually associated with bodies of water, over
which they feed. They forage low, close to the water’s surface.
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Food Habits:
Probably a variety of insects, but the diet of the species has not been
studied.
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Reproduction:
Mating time is unknown, but about 90% of pregnant females bear twins in
late April to mid- May. The production of twins is unique to species of
bats in the genus Myotis in the United States; all other Myotis usually
produce one young. Clusters of young often are separate from females
during the day. Young can fly when 5 or 6 weeks old.
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Status of
Populations: Once common, populations of the southeastern bat have
decreased and it has been proposed for listing as threatened or
endangered.
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