Habitat
Habitats include pine, mixed pine-hardwood, and hardwood forests of uplands and bottomlands, particularly pine-dominated forests, including mature pine and pine-hardwood corridors in managed pine forest landscapes (Menzel et al. 1998, 1999, 2000; Carter et al. 2004; Marks and Marks 2006; Perry and Thill 2007; Perry et al. 2007; Hein et al. 2008; Ammerman et al. 2012). Foraging occurs over water, clearings, and woods, including pine stands and upland and bottomland hardwoods (Carter et al. 2004). During autumn through spring, these bats commonly can be found in and near forests that support clumps of Spanish-moss (Jennings 1958). Roosts are up to 19 meters above ground in tall, large-diameter trees, but seasonally the bats may roost near or on the forest floor. In summer, roosts include clumps of needles on small branches in the canopy of large pines (often slash pine or loblolly pines; roosting bats may resemble pine cones) (Menzel et al. 1998, 1999, 2000; Perry and Thill 2007; Perry et al. 2007; Hein et al. 2008). Sometimes the bats have been found in clumps of Spanish-moss (mainly autumn through spring) (Constantine 1958, Jennings 1958). Winter roosts of adult males in South Carolina were in the canopy of overstory trees, understory vegetation, pine needle clusters, and leaf litter; bats roosted near or on the forest floor during cold weather, sometimes staying in one roost for up to 12 consecutive days (Hein et al. 2005, 2008). Individuals often switch among roosts in close proximity but may return to previously used trees or roost sites (Menzel et al. 2000, Perry and Thill 2007, Hein et al. 2008).