Little Brown Bat (Myotis lucifugus) (Le Conte, 1831)

 

Other names: Little Brown Myotis

 

 

Myotis lucifugus occurs throughout most of North America, from Alaska to Labrador, and south to California and northern Florida, although it is mainly absent from the southern Great Plains. It occurs in forested areas and fragmented landscapes, often near water and in close proximity to humans. These bats roost in tree hollows, wood piles, caves, attics, roofs, and other man-made structures. They hibernate in caves and abandoned mines. This species has small ears with a short, rounded tragus; wingspan 22-27 cm; weigh 5–14 g. M. lucifugus often forages near or above of water, catching moths, beetles, mayflies, mosquitoes, etc. They may scoop up the prey with their wings, or grab it with the mouth. In the past, some hibernacula contained as many as 300,000 Little Brown Bats. Once the most common bat of North America this species is now threatened with the White-nose Syndrome fungal disease, which has killed nearly 95% of hibernating Little Brown Bats in eastern North America. The disease is moving westward and the future of this species looks bleak. M. lucifugus hybridizes with M. yumanensis in some areas, and is closely related to M. thysanodes.

 

		13158 Little Brown Bat (Myotis lucifugus) Haldimand County, Ontario, Canada Copyright © Michael Patrikeev All Rights Reserved

 

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