Northern Long-eared Bat
Last Update/Review: June 17, 2002
The northern long-eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis) is distributed widely throughout Canada but seldom is seen. In western Canada, it is restricted to the boreal forest areas. Specimens have been collected in Alberta from Edmonton, Cadomin, Peace River, High Level, Edson, Spruce Grove, and Wood Buffalo National Park. Northern long-eared bats look very much like little brown bats. They differ in having long ears which extend up to 4 mm beyond the end of the nose when laid forward.
Myotis septentrionalis appears to congregate in small nursery colonies (up to 30 individuals); however, some females and their young roost alone. Each female gives birth to one young each year. During the summer these bats roost in a variety of shelters, including trees, caves, and occasionally buildings. Tall mature trees, alive or dead, are preferred and the bats often use cavities created by birds or crawl under loose bark on the trunk of the tree. Throughout the summer, the bats often change roosts and thus there is a need for many potential roost trees in an area where northern long-eared bats occur. Like the small-footed bat, this species is quite tolerant of cold and in winter prefers to roost singly in narrow crevices near the entrance of mines and caves. Northern long-ears are a gleaning species and prefer to snatch insects directly off the surface of leaves or tree branches. Thus they tend to be active within the forest canopy layer.
