Types of Bats Found in Canada

There are 18 species of bats native to Canada. They can be found in many different parts of the country. Bats are useful for keeping the insect population under control. They are also prey for cats, owls, hawks, falcons, snakes, and raccoons. The most common species of bat in Canada is the little brown bat. It is also the most widely dispersed. Although the little brown bat is found in Northern and Western Canada, it is more common in the Eastern part of the country. In the evening when it’s chasing prey, its echolocation call can be heard up to hundreds of times a second.

Populous Species

The big brown bat is another of Canada’s most populous species. It can be found throughout Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, and Saskatchewan. They hibernate in caves and mines during the winter. In spring and summer as many as 75 adult females and their young create maternity colonies. The males, on the other hand, are solitary. On dry, warm evenings, these bats can be seen foraging for insects which they pluck out of the air and eat. Some of the other bat species found in Canada include:

• California myotis
• Eastern pipistrelle
• Eastern small-footed bat
• Fringed bat
• Hoary bat
• Keen’s myotis
• Long-eared bat
• Long-legged bat
• Northern long-eared myotis
• Pallid bat
• Red bat
• Silver-haired bat
• Spotted bat
• Western big-eared bat
• Western small-footed bat
• Yuma myotis

Special Bats

Canada’s largest bat is the hoary bat. This solitary bat roosts in trees and likes eating beetles, dragonflies, moths, wasps, and other large insects. The country’s smallest bat is the Eastern pipistrelle or tricoloured bat. It’s found in southern Ontario, southern Quebec, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick. One of Canada’s rarest bats is the Eastern small-footed bat. The California myotis is often used for insect control. The Western big-eared bat or Townsend’s big-eared bat, is a very social creature which gathers in large groups.

At-Risk Species

Several of Canada’s native bats are in danger of extinction. There are fewer than 100 spotted bats. The population of the pallid bat is also very small. So is that of the Eastern pipistrelle, the big free-tailed bat, and the northern long-eared myotis. These and other species are protected by the British Columbia Wildlife Act, the Species at Risk Act or both. Many bats die because of disease, pesticides, human activity, or loss of habitat. About 99% of New Brunswick’s brown-nosed bats have died due to disease. About 2% of Canadian bats are rabid and can pass disease on to humans due to careless handling. People have developed histoplasmosis from inhaling dusty bat manure.

The laws concerning bats in Canada are very strict and with good reason. Human and bat interaction can be dangerous for both groups. If you need bat removal, you should contact Liddle Rascals Wildlife Co

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On May 3rd, 2016   /   Animal and Wildlife Control, Bats   /   Leave a comment