Activity
editDuring the day, the California myotis will roost in the bark of dead trees[1], particularly poderosa pines[1][2], rock crevices or buildings. The California myotis prefers forested areas and is rarely found in urban environments or open rural spaces.[3] They tend to emerge just after dusk and just before dawn to forage. Diet includes moths, flies and other flying insects.[4] Flight is slow and highly maneuverable which assists in prey capture.[2]
Mating and reproduction
editCalifornia myotis mate in the fall and give birth during the late spring (May- early June). Females give birth to one pup per year and can live for about 15 years in the wild. During the birthing season they form small maternity colonies of about 20 individuals, usually in the loose bark or trees or rock crevices. Males and non-reproductive females roost in small groups or alone.[5] During the winter they may hibernate in mines or rock caves, or they may remain active all winter.
- ^ a b Brigham, R. M.; Vonhof, M. J.; Barclay, R. M. R.; Gwilliam, J. C. (1997-11-26). "Roosting Behavior and Roost-Site Preferences of Forest-Dwelling California Bats (Myotis californicus)". Journal of Mammalogy. 78 (4): 1231–1239. doi:10.2307/1383066. ISSN 1545-1542.
- ^ a b Reid, Fiona (2006). A field guide to mammals of North America north of Mexico (4th ed.). Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co. p. 400. ISBN 9780395935965. OCLC 62782207.
- ^ Jung, Kirsten; Kalko, Elisabeth K. V. (2011-01-17). "Adaptability and vulnerability of high flying Neotropical aerial insectivorous bats to urbanization". Diversity and Distributions. 17 (2): 262–274. doi:10.1111/j.1472-4642.2010.00738.x. ISSN 1366-9516.
- ^ Ober, Holly K.; Hayes, John P. (2008-10). "Prey Selection by Bats in Forests of Western Oregon". Journal of Mammalogy. 89 (5): 1191–1200. doi:10.1644/08-mamm-a-025.1. ISSN 0022-2372.
{{cite journal}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ BARCLAY, ROBERT M. R.; MARK BRIGHAM, R. (2001-07). "Year-to-year Reuse of Tree-roosts by California Bats (Myotis californicus) in Southern British Columbia". The American Midland Naturalist. 146 (1): 80–85. doi:10.1674/0003-0031(2001)146[0080:ytyrot]2.0.co;2. ISSN 0003-0031.
{{cite journal}}: Check date values in:|date=(help)