A snowbank mushroom, it is associated with melting snow, and fruiting is initiated under snowbanks. Extensive lahars (mudflows) were created on the northeastern side as snowbanks were melted. Precipitation is not heavy, but the islands usually develop deep snowbanks in the winter. In the winter, it has been found roosting within cylindrical or conical holes in snowbanks. Trains would get stuck in snowbanks and passengers would be stranded, sometimes for days. They have been observed to slide down snowbanks, apparently purely for fun. It is the only species of bat that hibernates in snowbanks.