Ozark Big-eared Bat
(Corynorhinus (= Plecotus) townsendii ingens)
(Federally listed as Endangered)
Description: This is a medium-sized bat with a dark brown fur,
large ears (about four times the length found on most Oklahoma
bats), and two prominent lumps on the snout. It feeds on
night-flying insects; moths make up an especially large part of
the diet.
Habitat: Ozark Big-eared Bats live in limestone caves in
forested portions of the Ozark Highlands. They typically occupy
portions of caves that are near the entrance. Ozark Big-eared
Bats are not migratory, but they may move to different caves
between seasons. When foraging for insects, they fly above the
tree canopy and in gaps and clearings within the forest. They
are usually associated with oak and oak-hickory forest types.
Current and Historic Distribution: In Oklahoma, most of the
Ozark Big-eared Bat population occurs in Adair County and
adjacent parts of Cherokee and Delaware counties. They also
occur across the state line in northwestern Arkansas.
Historically, Ozark Big-eared Bats occurred in the Ozarks of
southwestern Missouri and were more widespread in Arkansas. The
current population is believed to be less than 4,000 bats, and
about half of these occur in Oklahoma. During the summer, males
are usually solitary, while females live in small colonies.
During the fall and winter, both sexes form hibernating colonies
together. This is one of the rarest mammals in Oklahoma.
Reasons for Decline: Human visitation and vandalism of the caves
that the bats occupy is thought to be the primary reason for
their decline. Because the bats occupy areas near the entrances
of caves, they are more easily disturbed than bats occurring
deeper in caves. If bats are disturbed frequently during
hibernation, it can cause them to increase their metabolism and
burn more of their stored body fat that is needed to sustain
them through the winter.
County by County List of Endangered and Threatened Species
US Fish and Wildlife Endangered Species Lists