The ecology of Plecotus austriacus is summarised by Razgour (2020), upon which much of the following description is based. This is a sedentary species that usually moves < 30 km between summer and winter quarters and up to 5 km from summer roosts to foraging sites (see also Hutterer et al. 2005). Habitat use varies significantly according to the geographic region considered.

The species occurs in urban areas in Central Europe, in warm lowlands and unforested mosaic landscapes, while in Southern Europe it is also found in open forests and less associated with urban sites. Forests are also used in Slovakia, Germany, and Italy (D. Russo, pers. obs.). In the UK, habitat use varies according to reproductive conditions but in general, the species forages in semi-improved to unmanaged lowland grasslands (including meadows and marshlands), woody riparian vegetation, and broadleaf woodlands. In Central Europe, gardens, parks, orchards, streetlights, and towns are also used for foraging. While forests are avoided in certain areas such as Switzerland, they are used somewhere else (Germany and Belgium). Summer roosts often occur in buildings, but caves can be used in the south, while underground artificial and natural sites, as well as rock crevices, are used to hibernate. The diet is dominated by moths, captured on the wing in open spaces or along edges in low flights, but a small amount of diurnal prey is also caught, suggesting that gleaning may occur yet much more rarely than in Plecotus auritus (Razgour 2020).

Plecotus austriacus is endemic to Europe. Its distribution spans from the Mediterranean region, where it is relatively widespread, north to 51° and 53° N (Britain, Germany, and Poland), east to Ukraine, and the western and northwestern coasts of the Black Sea. The species has colonised several Mediterranean (Sicily, Sardinia, Corsica, and the Balearic) islands, as well as, in the Atlantic, Madeira (reviewed in Razgour 2020).

The area of occupancy (AOO; 1,468 km²) was estimated using 2x2 km grid cells. The range of altitudes where this species can be found varies between 0 and 2,250 m asl.

Plecotus austriacus is protected by national legislation in most range states. There are also international legal obligations for the species' protection through the Eurobats Agreement and Bern Convention. It is included in Annex IV of the 92/43/EC Habitats Directive. According to the 2013-2018 art. 17 reporting made within the framework of the above-mentioned Directive, in the Alpine, Atlantic, Black Sea, Mediterranean, Pannonian, and Steppic biogeographic regions the conservation status is unfavourable-inadequate, in the Continental biogeographic region is unfavourable-bad, and in the Macaronesian biogeographic region (reported by Portugal only) is unknown (but all three prospect parameters are classified as poor).

To conserve this species, roosts should be strictly protected and foraging sites should be carefully managed, including traditional farmland. Pesticides may cause direct mortality as well as prey decline, so their use should be limited or avoided where possible. The adverse effects of artificial lighting at night and road development should be mitigated.