Little Brown Myotis (bat)

Myotis lucifugus

General Status Rank: 
At Risk
ELCODE: 
AMACC01010
Common Name: 
Little Brown Myotis (bat)
Scientific Name: 
Myotis lucifugus
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Taxonomy
Group: 
Mammal (Terrestrial Mammal)
Kingdom: 
Animalia
Phylum: 
Chordata
Class: 
Mammalia
Order: 
Chiroptera
Family: 
Vespertilionidae
References: 
B001
General Biology

Female Age at Maturity

12 months
References: 
B001

Longevity

>31 years
References: 
BAT2
Habitat
Occurs where some trees and water are found - prefers to forage over water - roosts in natural cavities, crevices, under bark, in buildings (B001,BAT2). Roost in tree cavities/bark, rock crevices, buildings, females tend to form colonies. Hibernates (R160).
References: 
B001
BAT2
R160
Distribution

Ecozones

Taiga Cordillera, Taiga Plains, Taiga Shield, Boreal Cordillera, Boreal Plains
References: 
B001
BAT2

Distribution

320,122 km (SARC, 2017). Northern extent of range is not well known. This species may occur in the Mackenzie River valley north of Fort Simpson but this area has not been surveyed for bats. A little brown myotis record from Colville Lake in 2012 may be extralimital (Wilson et al., 2014).
Score: 
G = 2
References: 
A398
H317
R282

Number of Occurrences

5 or more (SARC, 2017). Common and widespread in southern NWT (969 confirmed captures and specimens; Wilson et al., 2014). There is evidence of females reproducing in Dehcho and South Slave regions. 2 known hibernacula in South Slave Region, each used by a large number of bats (ENR unpublished data, n.d.).
Score: 
AB =
References: 
BAT1
R160
A398
H317

Historical Distribution

Southwestern Mackenzie.
References: 
BAT2

Area of Occupancy

237,944 km2 (SARC, 2017).
Score: 
H = >
Population

Population Size

More than 3,700 at known hibernacula. Little brown myotis is common and widespread in southern NWT (Wilson et al., 2014).
Score: 
E = 2
References: 
BAT1
BAT2
A401
Threats

Threats

White-nose syndrome (WNS) is a fungal disease associated with mass die-offs of hibernating bats since 2006. WNS has killed more than 5.5 million bats in the northeastern United States and eastern Canada. It continues to spread rapidly but has not yet reached western or northern Canada (www.whitenosesyndrome.org). Little brown myotis has experienced extreme population declines due to WNS in the east (91% declines at affected hibernacula; Turner et al., 2011 in H317).
Score: 
AC =
References: 
H243
R230
H317

Intrinsic Vulnerability

Score: 
-
References: 
H243
R230
H317
General Status Rank
Rank: 
At Risk
Status Rank Description: 
This species has experienced high levels of mortality from white-nose syndrome in eastern Canada and the northeastern United States. Population declines in the NWT are expected if and when the disease spreads to the NWT.
S Rank: 
S3S4
Decision Process Description: 
Drafted using information and comments from M. Fournier. Reviewed in 2004, no changes in status. Reviewed in 2010, modified from sensitive to may be at risk (J. Wilson); modified to at risk due to emergency assessment (COSEWIC, 2012); confirmed as Endangered (COSEWIC, 2013). Reviewed in 2015, no change. Reviewed in 2020, no change even after formal assessment by SARC, 2017 as Special Concern, remained at risk due to status in Canada as Endangered.
Last Updated: 
February 15, 2024
Status Designations

NWT - Assessment by Species at Risk Committee

NWT SARC Assessment: 
Special Concern
2017
References: 
R2017003

NWT - Species at Risk Legal Status

NWT Status Rank: 
Special Concern
2018

Canada – Assessment by Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada

COSEWIC Status: 
Endangered
Designated Endangered in an emergency assessment on February 3, 2012. Status re-examined and confirmed in November 2013. (COSEWIC. 2013. COSEWIC assessment and status report on the little brown myotis Myotis lucifugus, northern myotis Myotis septentrionalis and tri-colored bat Perimyotis subflavus in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Ottawa. xxiv + 93 pp. (www.registrelep-sararegistry.gc.ca/default_e.cfm).)
References: 
H264
R230

Canada – Species at Risk Legal Status

SARA Status: 
Endangered
2014

References

Age Of Maturity

  • Banfield AWF (1974) The Mammals of Canada. University of Toronto Press RWED Library Call #QL721.B3 - B001 Return
COSEWIC Status
  • COSEWIC (2012) Bat Emergency Pres Release. sent to S Carriere on 17/02/2012 copy in COSEWIC AGM 2012 binder - H264 Return
  • COSEWIC (2013) COSEWIC Status report on the Little Brown Myotis (Myotis lucifugus), Northern Myotis (Myotis septentrionalis), and Tri-colored Bat (Perimyotis subflavus) in Canada. Copy in ENR - R230 Return

Ecozones

  • Banfield AWF (1974) The Mammals of Canada. University of Toronto Press RWED Library Call #QL721.B3 - B001 Return
  • van Zyll de Jong, C.G. (1985) Handbook of Canadian Mammals - Bats. National Museums of Canada - National Museum of Natural Sciences Volume 2 - BAT2 Return

Habitat

  • Banfield AWF (1974) The Mammals of Canada. University of Toronto Press RWED Library Call #QL721.B3 - B001 Return
  • van Zyll de Jong, C.G. (1985) Handbook of Canadian Mammals - Bats. National Museums of Canada - National Museum of Natural Sciences Volume 2 - BAT2 Return
  • Lausen, Cori (2006) Bat survey of Nahanni National Park Reserve and surrounding areas, Northwest Territories.. Unpublished report prepared for Paks Canada and Candian Parks ad Wilderness Society, NWT Chapter Mammal binder - R160 Return

Historical Distribution

  • van Zyll de Jong, C.G. (1985) Handbook of Canadian Mammals - Bats. National Museums of Canada - National Museum of Natural Sciences Volume 2 - BAT2 Return

Intrinsic Vulnerability

  • Wilson, Joanna (2010) E-mail to S Carriere: NWT Species 20112015 version 1.1, Tue 09/11/2010 14:11. Word document attached: bats general status ranks input Nov 2010.docx. copy in binder - H243 Return
  • COSEWIC (2013) COSEWIC Status report on the Little Brown Myotis (Myotis lucifugus), Northern Myotis (Myotis septentrionalis), and Tri-colored Bat (Perimyotis subflavus) in Canada. Copy in ENR - R230 Return
  • Wilson J. (2015) e-mail sent to S Carriere 21/04/2015 e-copy - H317 Return

Longevity

  • van Zyll de Jong, C.G. (1985) Handbook of Canadian Mammals - Bats. National Museums of Canada - National Museum of Natural Sciences Volume 2 - BAT2 Return

NWT Known Subspecies

Banfield AWF (1974) The Mammals of Canada. University of Toronto Press RWED Library Call #QL721.B3 - B001 Return
,
van Zyll de Jong, C.G. (1985) Handbook of Canadian Mammals - Bats. National Museums of Canada - National Museum of Natural Sciences Volume 2 - BAT2 Return

Number of Occurrences

  • Fournier M.A. (2000) Bats in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut: a review. Undetermined In Preparation - BAT1 Return
  • Lausen, Cori (2006) Bat survey of Nahanni National Park Reserve and surrounding areas, Northwest Territories.. Unpublished report prepared for Paks Canada and Candian Parks ad Wilderness Society, NWT Chapter Mammal binder - R160 Return
  • Wilson, JM, Reimer, JP, Allaire, D. and Lausen, CL (2014) Northwestern Naturalist 95:197-218 - A398 Return
  • Wilson J. (2015) e-mail sent to S Carriere 21/04/2015 e-copy - H317 Return

NWT SARC Assessment

  • SARC (2017) Species at Risk Committee. 2017. Species Status Report for Big Brown Bat, Little Brown Myotis, Northern Myotis, Long-eared Myotis, and Long-legged Myotis (Eptesicus fuscus, Myotis lucifugus, Myotis septentrionalis, Myotis evotis, and Myotis volans) in the. Species at Risk Committee, Yellowknife, NT. http://www.nwtspeciesatrisk.ca/sites/default/files/bat_status_report_and_assessment_final_apr617.pdf - R2017003 Return

Population Size

Fournier M.A. (2000) Bats in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut: a review. Undetermined In Preparation - BAT1 Return
,
van Zyll de Jong, C.G. (1985) Handbook of Canadian Mammals - Bats. National Museums of Canada - National Museum of Natural Sciences Volume 2 - BAT2 Return
,
LAUSEN CL, WAITHAKA J, TATE D. (2014) Northwestern Naturalist 95:186–196. - A401 Return

Range Extent

  • Wilson, JM, Reimer, JP, Allaire, D. and Lausen, CL (2014) Northwestern Naturalist 95:197-218 - A398 Return
  • Wilson J. (2015) e-mail sent to S Carriere 21/04/2015 e-copy - H317 Return
  • SARC (2015) Draft version by Jesika Reimer and Tracey Gotthardt Alaska Natural Heritage Program e-copy - R282 Return

Taxonomy

  • Banfield AWF (1974) The Mammals of Canada. University of Toronto Press RWED Library Call #QL721.B3 - B001 Return

Threats

  • Wilson, Joanna (2010) E-mail to S Carriere: NWT Species 20112015 version 1.1, Tue 09/11/2010 14:11. Word document attached: bats general status ranks input Nov 2010.docx. copy in binder - H243 Return
  • COSEWIC (2013) COSEWIC Status report on the Little Brown Myotis (Myotis lucifugus), Northern Myotis (Myotis septentrionalis), and Tri-colored Bat (Perimyotis subflavus) in Canada. Copy in ENR - R230 Return
  • Wilson J. (2015) e-mail sent to S Carriere 21/04/2015 e-copy - H317 Return