Northern Long-Eared Myotis - Sierra Club BC
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Northern Long-Eared Myotis

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Northern Long-Eared Myotis

Myotis septentrionalis

Appearance

Northern long-eared myotis are mouse-eared bats with long, rounded ears. They have a distinct dull-brown coloured spot on their shoulder. The females are generally larger than the males, but the average size for both is 78 millimetres. They weigh from six to nine grams and have a wingspan of 23 to 26 centimetres. They differ from other similar bat species in that they have a longer tail and a larger wing area.

Range & Habitat

The range of this bat species is all across Canada, from eastern, central, and northern British Columbia to Newfoundland and into the southern United States as far as Florida, through the Dakotas. The northern long-eared myotis are found in boreal forests and the forests of the cedar-hemlock ranges of B.C., which are generally wetter habitat areas with lakes and ponds. 

Reciprocal relationships

This endangered bat is an important member of our ecosystems. The main part of the bat’s diet is insects that fly at night, such as caddisflies, moths, beetles, and flies. They are key in making sure these populations do not spike.  

With very poor eyesight and an active nightlife, the northern long-eared myotis have adapted by using echolocation to find their prey. They generally hunt during two different periods: at dusk and once again at dawn after a rest period called night roosting. The females and males always roost separately. Toward the end of summer, the bats find others of their kind and move to places where they will hibernate. In their place of hibernation, they are usually alone, although they sometimes hibernate with a few others. 

The northern long-eared myotis can live up to 18.5 years. Threats to this bat species include forestry practices because they decrease the amount of trees available to make day roosts and form colonies for nursing. Chemical use on insects, the main food supply for the bats, also threatens their population.

Status

COSEWIC: Endangered 
CDC: Blue 

More information

If you belong to a First Nation with a story or piece of information not represented here and you would like to share more about this species, please email us at education@sierraclub.bc.ca

photo credit

Canva

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