All About:
Common Bat Species in our Area

Southwestern Ontario is home to a diverse array of insectivorous bat species:

-the Big Brown Bat (Eptesicus fuscus), identifiable by its fur ranging from tan to dark brown and its ability to form communal roosts of up to 700 individuals.

AKA the 'BBB'.

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-the Little Brown Bat (Myotis lucifugus), characterized by its uniformly glossy brown fur and capacity for communal roosts numbering in the thousands. AKA the 'LBB'.

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-the Northern Long-eared Bat (Myotis septentrionalis), with its dull, yellow-brown fur and notably large black ears, prefers boreal forest habitats and often roosts solitarily under bark, in tree cavities, or in buildings. AKA the 'Northern Myotis'.

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-the Silver-haired Bat (Lasiurus noctivagans), recognized by its "frosted" appearance.

 

-the Eastern Red Bat (Lasiurus borealis) with its distinctive yellow-red to orange fur.

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-the Tri-colored Bat (Perimyotis subflavus), AKA the 'Eastern Pipistrelle'.

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-of honorable mention include the Hoary Bat (Lasiurus cinereus) and the smallest Ontario bat: the Eastern Small-footed Myotis (Myotis leibii).

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Of particular concern for conservation are the Little Brown Myotis, Northern Myotis, and Tri-colored Bat, all of which are federally listed as Endangered under Schedule 1 of the Species at Risk Act (SARA) and provincially under Ontario's Endangered Species Act (ESA). This protected status underscores the critical need for careful management and conservation efforts for these vulnerable populations.