Bats in Sagebrush

Bats are vital to the health of economies and natural ecosystems -- even sagebrush-steppe!

While sage is not these little mammals' primary habitat, many state wildlife plans associate bat species with sagebrush, especially riparian areas where they forage for insects.

A day-flying Myotis bat; Jordi Segers/Canadian Wildlife Health Center

In the process, they help pollinate grasses and forbs that sage-grouse and hundreds of other species rely on for food and which cycle crucial moisture in these typically dry ecosystems.

Little brown myotis (Myotis lucifugus); J.N. Stuart/Creative Commons

Long-eared myotis (Myotis evotis); Montana FWP/Adam Messer

In all, ten bat species are associated with sagebrush in various states.

Hoary bat (Lasiurus cinereus); Paul Cryan/U.S. Geological Survey

A greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) feeds in a sunlit wet meadow; Tom Koerner/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Other bat species not shown but often found in riparian sage-steppe:

• Fringed myotis (Myotis thysanodes)
• Long-legged myotis (Myotis volans)
• Yuma myotis (Myotis yumanensis)
• Spotted bat (Euderma maculatum)
• Townsend's big-eared bat (Corynorhinus townsendii)
• Allen's big-eared bat (Idionycteris phyllotis)

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