General Habitat:: Little is known of the habitat but they have been found beneath rock slabs and crevices. Range is from New England southwest to northern Georgia, with scattered populations into the southern midwest. This species is widespread in the western United States. Records are primarily of the hibernating Small-footed bat. Although the numbers found hibernating are not large, they have significantly decreased at nearly every known site. This species sometimes hibernates on cave floors or under rocks or in cracks. Caves where the greatest numbers of these bats were found are in heavy hemlock forests in the foothills of mountains that rise to 2,000 or more feet (600 or more meters). It has been noted that this species was most readily captured at cave entrances in South Dakota and Kentucky during late summer and early autumn. Information of this species during summer is virtually unknown; records of this species away from caves and during summer months are very rare, and are usually from accidental encounters. This bat forms small maternity colonies, and females bear a single young per year. Pregnant females have been caught in June and July, and nonvolant juveniles have been encountered in May and June. Nonvolant juveniles, a volant juvenile, and a postlactating female were all reported from the same area of South Dakota in late July.
General Description:This bat is 2.75-3.25in (7.0-8.25cm) in size with glossy fur, light tan to golden brown above, buff to nearly white below. The wings and interfemoral membrane are dark brown. These bats have black ears and a black mask and have a calcar keel. Its hind foot, for which it is named, is usually slightly smaller than that of other members of its genus.
