Perimyotis subflavus

These bats are associated with forested landscapes, where they forage near trees (including forest perimeters) and along waterways (Fujita and Kunz 1984). In many areas, most foraging occurs in riparian areas (e.g., Ellis et al. 2002, Ford et al. 2005, Menzel et al. 2005). In Nova Scotia, they appeared to use primarily areas with intact, unfragmented forest cover (Farrow and Broders 2011). In spring and summer in deciduous forest in western North Carolina, nonreproductive individuals selected mature stands or buffer zones near perennial streams, and they tended to roost near openings (perhaps to minimize commuting costs when openings comprise a small proportion of a densely forested landscape) (O'Keefe et al. 2009).

Maternity and other summer roosts probably are mainly in dead or live tree foliage (including attached lichen clumps such as Usnea and "Spanish moss") (Carter and Menzel 2007, Poissant et al. 2010); caves, mines, and rock crevices may be used as night roosts between foraging forays (Barbour and Davis 1969). Maternity colonies also may utilize human-made structures (buildings, bridges; e.g., Ferrara and Leberg 2005) or tree cavities; sometimes these are in open sites that would not be tolerated by most other bats (Barbour and Davis 1969). In summer in Arkansas, roosts were most often among dead leaves of oaks in mature (>50-year-old) forest with a relatively complex structure and a hardwood component, but 3 of 7 maternity roosts were in clumps of dead needles of live, large pines (Perry and Thill 2007). In Indiana, pregnant and lactating females roosted exclusively in foliage, typically in clusters of dead leaves and less often in live foliage or squirrel nests (Veilleux et al. 2003). In Nova Scotia, colonies of females roost exclusively in clumps of the lichen Usnea, typically in spruce trees (Poissant et al. 2010). In Indiana, Veilleux and Veilleux (2004) provided limited evidence that females are faithful to small roost areas both within and between years, and that juvenile females exhibit female natal philopatry. Reproductive females roost alone or in groups of up to about 50 individuals (Perry and Thill 2007).

Hibernation sites often are in caves (e.g., Briggler and Prather 2003), mines, or cavelike tunnels (e.g., Slider and Kurta 2011), also box culverts under highways, especially those near forest (Texas; Sandel et al. 2001). Kurta et al. (2007) recorded hibernation in a dam and colonization of a cave that had been highly altered for commercialization. Hibernating individuals perch singly, infrequently in small groups.

Probably feeds within a 5-mile radius of its roosting site. In spring and summer in Indiana, the maximum distance traveled by 19 radio-tagged reproductive females was 4.3 km (Veilleux et al. 2003). Probably occurs in low densities. Relatively uncommon. Generally solitary or in small groups.

Mates in October/November. Litter size usually is 2, born June to mid-July in north, May in south. Probably sexually mature 1st summer. Young able to fly within a month. Maternity colonies are small.