In summer, this species mainly roosts in deciduous trees, including rot cavities, woodpeckers’ holes, and other cavities such as those generated by a lightning strike in the main trunks or large branches. Roosts are usually located >5 m above ground but can sometimes be found close to ground level (reviewed in Ancillotto and Russo 2020). The species may also roost in buildings. Hibernacula are often caves but also human-made underground sites and only occasional tree cavities. Buildings are also often used both in summer and winter. This is mainly a forest forager that frequently gleans prey from the foliage or hunts on the wing. May also forage in gardens and parks, but typically trees are present at foraging sites. A recent study that was done in the Italian Apennines (Ancillotto et al. 2022) showed that high forest stands were the most preferred habitat type, whereas coppice, conifer stands, and pastures were the least preferred, and that trails and clearings were used as landmarks for commuting.

Plecotus auritus typically covers short distances from the roost (e.g., max 1.6 km in the Italian Apennines: Ancillotto et al. 2022). The diet mostly consists of moths, but also scarabeids, crane-flies, and caddis-flies, along with other arthropods that are gleaned off the substrate such as diurnal flies, spiders, harvestmen or even isopods (reviewed in Ancillotto and Russo 2020). This is a sedentary species whose seasonal movements cover a few km (Hutterer et al. 2005).

Plecotus auritus has a typically Palearctic distribution, but following taxonomic revision (see Taxonomic Notes), it is endemic to Europe, with a range spanning from Iberia in the west to European Türkiye and the Ural Mountains in the east.

The range of elevations where this species can be found varies between 0 and 2,350 m asl. The AOO and EOO have not been estimated, but based on the available locality records, they are expected to greatly exceed the threshold for a threatened category.

It is protected by national legislation in most main range states, except Russia. There are also international legal obligations for its protection through the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) and EUROBATS Agreement. It is included in Appendix II of the Council of Europe’s Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (Bern Convention). It is also included in Annex IV of the EU Habitats and Species Directive. Important habitats are partially protected by Natura 2000 sites and national networks of protected areas.

Although the species is not at risk, it may benefit from sustainable forestry in roosting areas to save potentially suitable trees from logging. Avoidance of light pollution and indoor confinement of domestic cats where this species is present, as well as restrictions in the use of agricultural insecticides, may favour its persistence.