Western Mastiff Bat site in California Desert

A single Western Mastiff Bat (Eumops perotis, aka Greater Bonneted Bat) has been roosting for several days at a ranger station in the Mojave Desert. It is very easily seen.
I received this interesting report on November 22 from Charles Hood…. if anyone visits could they let this blog know whether the animal is still there?
Jon

The single animal is roosting in the eaves of the foyer of the main entrance to Jawbone Canyon Visitor Center, at the intersection of Highway 14 and Jawbone Canyon. This is just south of Red Rock Canyon State Park, about two to two and a half hours from Los Angeles. Highway 14 turns into Highway 395, the road between Reno and L.A. that goes up the Owens Valley between Death Valley and Yosemite.

It was present as recently 22 November 2012 and has been there for at least three days. The Visitor Center is open every day of the year, so it’s easy to call and check to see if the bat is still present. The number is 760-373-1146. This is in Kern County, at the mouth of the canyon that birdwatchers know as the access point to Butterbredt Springs. The canyon itself is heavily used by off-highway vehicles but people coming and going out of the Visitor Center do not seem to concern the bat.

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