After breeding occurs in the fall, the embryos develop very slowly until March, when growth continues at a more normal rate before birth in May or June.

[2] Like all other species in the genus Macrotus, it has twelve thoracic, six lumbar, five sacral, and seven caudal vertebrae.

[2] The bats are susceptible to human disturbance, which can be especially detrimental to the species during summer months, when rearing their young.

Because California leaf-nosed bats do not hibernate or migrate, the relatively warm mine shafts are critical for their survival in the northern portions of its range.

[3] In the study area Macrotus roosts in the daytime exclusively in caves, deserted mine tunnels and deep grottos.

On many occasions, leaf-nosed bats roost in tunnels less than 20 feet deep and fairly brightly lit.

Macrotus prefer to hang from sloping parts of the ceiling and actively grab the rock with ease due to the irregularity of the surface.

The free foot is often used for scratching and for grooming the fur, and when the bat is engaged in these activities the body usually swings gently like an erratically disturbed pendulum.

The bat flies six to eight inches below the ceiling and upon the wings making a deep down stroke that is directed nearly straight forward the hind limbs and uropatagium.

This bat is a "gleaning" insectivore which captures prey such as crickets, grasshoppers, beetles, and sphinx moths straight from the ground or foliage rather than in flight.

It prefers to use its large eyes to detect prey, although in total darkness it will switch to echolocation.

The bats' stomachs often contain orthopteran insects, noctuid moths and caterpillars, and beetles of the families Scarabaeidae and Carabidae, along with unidentified material.