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| Distribution |
In NC, the species occurs mostly in a few caves/mines in the northern mountains, mainly on Grandfather Mountain.
The full species occurs primarily in the western half of the United States and Mexico, with scattered and isolated populations from WV and KY to northwestern NC; these eastern populations are separate subspecies from the nominate one in the West. The subspecies in VA and NC is the "Virginia Big-eared Bat" (Corynorhinus townsendii virginianus). |
| Abundance |
Rare in NC, and highly restricted to just a few known sites in a small geographic area in the northern mountains. This subspecies has been rather resistant to White Nose Syndrome, and losses have been very few in the state. |
| Seasonal Occurrence |
Hibernates in winter. Apparently not migratory, at least in NC. |
| Habitat |
This is a cave-dweller, generally not using buildings or trees for roosting. However, a few recent records have been from inside buildings and in nooks and crannies in rocks, and thus not all records are from caves/mines. Restricted to the higher elevations (over 3,500 feet, and mostly over 4,500 feet), amid such high elevation forests. Probably feeds over creeks/rivers as well as forests. |
| Behavior |
It roosts in winter in moderate-sized colonies, often 100 or more individuals. It is, or course, nocturnal in foraging. In the warmer months, females disperse up to 10 miles or more from the winter roost sites, to give birth in small groups in smaller caves or other shelter sites (cracks in rocks, etc.) |
| Comments |
The two eastern subspecies are each Federally listed as Endangered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; it is thus also State Endangered. Two caves on Grandfather Mountain are gated, to keep people from entering them and disturbing the bats. In the past few years, radio-tagged female bats from these caves have been tracked to maternity sites 10 or more miles away, especially in western Watauga County. |
| Origin |
Native |
| NC List |
Official |
 State Rank |
S1 |
| State Status |
E |
| Global Rank |
G4 |
| Federal Status |
E |
| subspecies |
Corynorhinus townsendii virginianus |
| other_comName |
Virginia Big-eared Bat |
| synonym |
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