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The Northern Long-eared Myotis (Myotis septentrionalis) is known to hibernate in mines and caves, often using cracks within these hibernacula as roost sites. We hypothesized that M. septentrionalis might use deep cracks in rock outcrops for hibernation as well. To test this hypothesis, we placed acoustical bat detectors near rock outcrops away from any known mines or caves during winter in Nebraska. We documented calls of M. septentrionalis as well as Perimyotis subflavus and Eptesicus fuscus in December near rock outcrops, which suggests that individuals of all three species were hibernating in rock crevices in winter. Of the 34 sites we monitored, we identified the calls of M. septentrionalis at two sites (about 250 km apart). The dominant rocks at both sites were limestone and shale with large, deep cracks. Given the recent listing of this species as threatened by the US Fish and Wildlife Service, it is important to understand the possible role of cracks in rock outcrops as alternative hibernacula.

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Populations of the Northern Long-Eared Myotis (Myotis septentrionalis) have declined dramatically in recent years in eastern North America due to white-nose syndrome. Although M. septentrionalis was once common in parts of eastern North America, few studies have examined habitat selection of this species in an agricultural landscape. We used acoustical methods to quantify bat activity and construct a habitat model of M. septentrionalis in an intensively farmed area in the Midwestern United States, where mortality from white-nose syndrome has not yet been observed. Our study confirms that M. septentrionalis prefers forest and avoids open habitats in this agricultural region. The best landscape variable for predicting activity in woodland sites was the proportion of forest coverage within a radius of 2000 meters. Our analysis indicates that bat activity increased exponentially as forest coverage increased. There is no evidence that M. septentrionalis preferred open areas at the edge of forest (within 5 m of forest edge), or that once in the woods, the distance to the forest edge had any impact on activity.