Life
The average lifespan of a Townsend's big-eared bat is 16 years.
During summer, males and females occupy separate roosting sites. Males live solitary lifestyles away from females. Females and their pups form maternal colonies which often number from around 12 to 200, although in the eastern United States, colonies of 1,000 or more have been formed.
During the winter, these bats hibernate, often when temperatures are around 32 to 53°F (around 0°C to 11.5°C.) Hibernation occurs in tightly packed clusters, which could possibly help stabilize body temperatures against the cold. Males often hibernate in warmer places than females and are more easily aroused and active in winter than females. The bats are often interrupted from their sleep because they tend to wake up frequently and move around in the cave or move from one cave entirely to another. Before hibernation, C. townsendii individuals increase their body mass to compensate for the food they do not eat during the winter.
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