After four weeks, the young bat is fully grown, and ready to leave the colony. Females mature sexually at about 8 months of age, while males mature in their second summer. Little brown bats may live up to 25 years. Similar in size and color to the little brown bat, A Northern long eared bat may be distinguished by its longer tail and narrower and longer ears. Long eared bats roost singly or in small colonies in caves, behind window shutters, under loose tree bark, in cliff crevices.
Females gather in nursery colonies in attics, barns, and tree cavities.
Probably a single young is born in July. Long eareds return to caves in fall, often sharing space with little brown bats, big brown bats, and pygmy bats. The Indiana bat resembles the little brown bat, so much that the animal must be handled to closely examine differing characteristics. An Indiana bat has a pinkish cast to its fur, giving it a light purple-brown coloration. The muzzle has less fur giving its face a pink look compared to a little brown.