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Southeastern Big-eared Bat, Corynorhinus rafinesquii macrotis

CORA

a maternity colony that roosted under  a Union County bridge.   The bridge was replaced with box culverts in    December 1999 (Finn, unpub) & the status of that colony remains unknown.

Echolocation: Produce low intensity echolocation calls that are difficult to pick up on bat detectors, may have to be < 20 ft to be detected by Anabat.

Florida Distribution:  Only five maternity colonies have been documented in Florida.  The population     status of two colonies remains unknown after loss of the original roost site. Individual BEB’s have been recorded as far south as the Big Cypress Swamp in Collier County, but southernmost maternity site is in Polk County.

Foraging Behavior: Habitat in and adjacent to mature swamps & forested wetlands associated with streams.  Prefer moths & soft-bodied insects gleaned from foliage.  Moth specialist. 

Roosting Behavior: Colonial.  Often roost solitary (males) or in small groups  (3 – 7).  In FL,   maternity colonies average 30 – 40 bats.  Documented roosts include abandoned structures and low level cavities in gum, cypress, and magnolia (Finn 2001). Sensitive todisturbance, will abandon roost sites.

                                  Uses bat houses? Yes, but only of special design         Nuisance colonies?            No

Reproduction: In Florida, single pup born early May.]

Management and Conservation Recommendations:  This species may be in the greatest need of conservation efforts.  Conservation of forested wetlands, mature swamps and adjacent habitat, preservation of cavity trees (especially Nyssa) and protection of abandoned structures will benefit this and other bat species.  Installation of large artificial roosts (i.e. modified concrete culverts) should be considered (see BCI 2002-2003  Annual Report, pg 4; Finn 2002).

Corynorhinus rafinesquii (CORA) Anabat files recorded in Clay co, FL, Sept 2008