Emerges soon after sunset, earlier if sky is overcast. A second peak of activity occurs shortly before sunrise. Juveniles and lactating females emerge later, and juveniles may have unimodal activity patterns. In Arizona, hibernation begins in September or October, females before males. The cave myotis may fly a considerable distance to and from feeding areas.
Individuals return to roost sites year after year, but have poor homing ability if displaced.
Occurs in large colonies. The cave myotis copulates in fall and winter. After a gestation period of 60-70 days, the young are born in June and July. There is a single litter of 1 individual. The young are capable of flight at 3 wk, begin foraging at 4 wk, wean at 6 wk, and reach adult weight at 9-10 wk.