Townsend’s Big-eared Bat
Corynorhinus townsendii
Background
Townsend’s big-eared bats are a charismatic species with marvelouslylarge ears and prominent, bilateral nose lumps. Two subspecies are listed as endangered in the United States - the Virginia big-eared bat and the Ozark big-eared bat, which inhabit the central Appalachian and Ozark regions of the U.S.
Current Threats
- Ecosystem conversion and degradation
- Disturbance/destruction of roost sites (e.g., recreational caving, mining)
How You Can Help
- Do not disturb roosting bats
- Plant native flowers to attract insects• Spread the word about bats and Bat Week!
Fun Facts
These bats are also known as “ram-eared bats” because when they are sleeping, the ears are often rolled down and back across the head, mimicking ram horns.
These insectivorous bats use “stealth echolocation” to outsmart their prey’s defenses, like sonar jamming and evasive maneuvers. Their low-intensity echolocation calls allow them to detect prey before prey detect them!
Faces of Bat Week
Townsend's big-eared bat
Townsend's big-eared bats are a charismatic species with marvelously large ears and prominent, bilateral nose lumps.
Northern long-eared bat
The northern long-eared bat is a species of bat native to North America. There are no recognized subspecies.
Mexican long-nosed bat
The Mexican long-nosed bat is federally endangered and relies on nectar from agave to make long migrations through Mexico and the southwest United States.