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Natural History and Identification of Bats in Central Coastal California (Me-Mc).
Mark R. Stromberg, Hastings Reservation
The best way to introduce the bats is probably by showing you a picture or two for each and then giving you a bit of information on the natural history of the bats. I will present them in alphabetical order, using their scientific names. The photos are mostly from a great book ("Bats of America" by Roger Barbour and W. H. Davis. 1969 Univ. of Kentucky Press). This book has a good key to the bats of North America. A Key to the California Bats will allow you figure out which bat you have in hand. Photos should not be used elsewhere without permission. Contact Bat Conservation International for photographs of bats. Amy Fesnock of Pinnacles National Monument straddling San Benito and Monterey Counties, made the bat voice recordings. Bat vocalizations are recorded with special microphones that can hear sounds that are 10x higher in frequency than humans can hear. To let us hear the sounds, they were translated by dividing the frequency by 10; thus a 20,000 Hz sound is beyond most of our hearing and is presented here as 2,000 Hz. Jeff Froke, Santa Lucia Preserve, on the southwestern flanks of Carmel Valley provided information on bat distribution there. Other information is derrived from the files at Hastings.
Return to Index of Bats of Central California
The
California Myotis is one of the smallest of our western bats (total
length 70-90 mm).The calcar is keeled and this bat can have fur
from light tan to black. Foot is very small (5-8 mm) and the forearm
is small (< 35 mm). Occurs on entire west coast of North America
(Alaska to Chiapas) in low deserts, lower coastal zones, but not
into the higher interior mountains. Probably most common in riparian
areas where water is available. Uses buildings as night roosts,
leaving small piles of droppings. Days are spent in crevices- in
bark, rock outcrops, hollow trees, behind signs, etc. Slow, erratic
flight, often 5-10 feet above ground. Occasional small maternity
roosts (<50 individuals), summer bats appear to be transitory.
Sporadic presence in bat boxes at Hasting is year-round, often roosting
at night in buildings along Finch Creek. May not hibernate, and
can be active in temperatures as low as 43°F (6°C). Special
"brown fat" on back may be converted to heat during cold
periods. Pectoral muscles can contract strongly even when cooled
down to 0°C. Peak activity is about 1 hour after sunset. Males
become reproductively active in fall and a single young is born
in late May or Jun. Young are able to fly after about 2 months.
Diet includes flying insects (moths, mosquitoes, flies, and beetles).
Known from Pinnacles, Hastings and Santa Lucia Preserve. 
Named
from the same scientific expedition by Audubon and Bachman who collected
the Black-footed ferret, the Small-footed Myotis is a mountain bat,
found in the western states at higher elevations and along the Appalachian
mountains. A small bat (total length 65-85 mm), with tiny foot (5-8
mm), keeled calcar (see key), black ears and black facial mask. Difficult
to tell apart from California myotis without skull comparison. Breeding
occurs in fall, sperm are stored over winter with ovulation and conception
in spring. Hibernates in caves. A single young is born, with births
Jun-Jul. Females form maternity roosts in rock crevices and caves,
and leave young hanging while they forage. May roost under old bark.
Forages near water, riparian areas; prefers beetles, but moths important
in diet as well. Can detect mist nets, and can hover delicately in
place. Known from Pinnacles and Santa Lucia Preserve.