The distribution of this species is given by [Miller] and [Allen] (1928: 101) as "northern North America from the limits of tree growth south in the east to South Carolina and Arkansas, and in the west to northwestern Washington."
I have not observed this bat in Washington and know nothing of its habits. Its distribution is most unusual. Its range seems to lie only in the glaciated area of western British Columbia and northern Washington.
Myotis evotis (H. [Allen])
Long-eared myotis
Description.—The distinguishing feature of Myotis evotis is its long ears, which, when laid forward, reach 5 mm. in front of the nose. Myotis thysanodes and Myotis keenii, other species in which the ears are rather long, have the ears ending less than 5 mm. anterior to the nose when laid forward. The foot of Myotis evotis is of moderate size (8 to 9 mm.).
This species ranges over the western United States, from British Columbia to central Mexico. Two subspecies of this interesting bat are recognized, both of which occur in Washington.
Though I have hunted for this species of bat in Washington on numerous occasions, I have taken no specimens. In the summer of 1939, Myotis identified as this species because of their large ears, were seen flying at midnight in the light of searchlights over Lake Washington Canal at Seattle. Mary Greer gave us a specimen which was struck by her auto near Baker Lake, Whatcom County. According to Miss Greer, the specimen was seen "hovering in the road, like a large moth." The time was about midnight. This evidence indicates that the species does its hunting late at night, when ordinary methods of hunting bats are useless, and may account for the scarcity of specimens from the state. Nevertheless, collectors from the California Museum of Vertebrate Zoölogy took specimens in the Blue Mountains where the bats flew slowly, in rather straight courses, 20 to 25 feet from the ground.
Fig. 36. Distribution of the long-eared myotis in Washington. A. Myotis evotis evotis. B. Myotis evotis pacificus.