Bats of the United States and Canada

Rafinesque’s Big-eared Bat, Corynorhinus rafinesquii

140 bats of the united states and canada RAFINESQUE’S BIG-EARED BAT Corynorhinus rafinesquii Special Concern–United States Weight is 8–14 grams (0.3–0.5 ounce); wingspan is 26–30 centimeters (10–12 inches); distribution is the southeastern United States. Rafinesque’s big-eared bats occur in nearly every type of forested habitat within their range. Roosts include partially lighted, abandoned buildings, hand-dug wells, cisterns, grain silos, attics of occupied houses, highway culverts, bridges, and other humanmade structures. They also roost in caves, trees, and other natural places. Maternity colonies usually are in abandoned buildings, sometimes in rather well-lighted areas, and consist of a few to several dozen adults. Maternity colonies are more rarely in caves and mines. Males generally are solitary during summer, roosting in buildings or hollow trees. When approached in summer, these bats begin to wave their ears, apparently trying to keep track of the intruder. This species and the tri-colored bat (Perimyotis subflavus) choose more open and more lighted day roosts than other kinds of bats. Both species commonly hang in the open in plain sight. Rafinesque’s big-eared bat emerges late in the evening to forage; apparently it does not forage at twilight. Its flight is remarkably agile. Moths and other nightflying insects are eaten. One baby is born in late May or early June in the northern part of the range and about mid-May in the South. The young shed their milk teeth in mid-July and reach adult size by August or early September. Rafinesque’s big-eared bat is uncommon over most of its range and has been proposed for listing as threatened or endangered. recto runninghead 141 ...