California Bat

Myotis californicus

Family:

Vespertilionidae (evening bats and vesper bats)

Description:

California bats measure 3-4 inches in total length, making them one of the smallest myotis species in North America. The fur is long and dull, not glossy, and shows great geographic variation in color, ranging from rusty reddish-brown to rich-dark chestnut brown.

Habitat:

California bats have a wide tolerance of habitat including semi-arid desert regions of the Southwest, arid grasslands, forested regions of the Pacific Northwest, humid coastal forests and montane forests.

Range:

The range of California bats extends from southeastern Alaska, through the western United States, south to southern Mexico.

Food:

California bats are insectivorous, feeding mainly on flies, moths and beetles.

Breeding:

There is little documented information available on reproduction of this little bat. It is known that mating occurs in autumn. Females store sperm in the uterus and fertilization follows ovulation in the spring. In California mating also may occur in the spring. A single young is born in late June or early July.

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