 Southern yellow bats occur in the southwestern United States to northern Argentina and Uruguay, with the most austral record being Buenos Aires province, Argentina, at 40° S. They reside in wooded area such as forest, foliage, and palms.They occasionally occupy other sites that resemble large dead leaves, such as dried corn stalks and thatched roofing  This species roosts in trees and vegetation.In Texas, their preferred roosting sites are the frond "skirts" of both wild and ornamental palm trees, such as "Sabal mexicana" and "Washingtonia robusta".