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Little Brown Bat

Myotis lucifugus

Photo by J.T.Layne
Published on Project Noah
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40.8084, -82.9755

Field Notes

Description:

Insectivore. Distinguished from Indiana bats by non-keeled calcars and "hairy" toes. Northern myotis bats have spear-like tragus as opposed to "clubbed."

Habitat:

Hibernates during winter in caves. During late spring through late summer forms maternity colonies in man-made structures (e.g. barns). Forages in riparian areas.

Notes:

Mass mortalities of this species are occurring due to white-nose syndrome: http://www.batcon.org/index.php/what-we-do/white-nose-syndrome.html

Reference Links:

Species Profiles

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (11)
Ava T-B
Please consider adding this spotting to the new North American Bat Tracker mission at http://www.projectnoah.org/missions/18306114
EntreAguas
awesome bat photos. could you please help me ID some colombia bat species... some have hints of what they may be. thank you. http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/12307075 http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/12305092 http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/11940220 http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/11303677 http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/11309517
galewhale..Gale
A world without bats would be very sad and buggy. Thanks for the work you do! Your images and knowledge would be a great addition to this mission: http://www.projectnoah.org/missions/6543173
KarenL
That is truly tragic.
J.T.Layne
Sad news : Estimated that at least 5.7 million bats have died in North America since 2006 due to a fungus called Geomyces destructans: http://www.fws.gov/whitenosesyndrome/
KarenL
Thanks for the tip & the link! We've installed ours on a south facing wall so it will get plenty of direct sun in the summer but less in the winter as there is shade from the woods. We've put it close to a light in the hope all the bugs it attracts will lure in the bats!
J.T.Layne
At least 7 hours of direct sunlight is a requirement. Here is an excellent link for tips with placing your bathouse: http://www.batmanagement.com/Batcentral/batboxes/choosingsite.html Good luck with it, I'm in the process of making my own!
KarenL
Great info! We put up our first bat box last fall & we will put up another if we actually get bats! We are planning to dig a pond in the spring so hopefully that will help to attract them. There's already lots of mosquitos round here so they would have a plentiful food supply! Any other tips would be appreciated!
J.T.Layne
Yes, yes I did. My bad,here is the link: http://dnr.maryland.gov/wildlife/Plants_Wildlife/bats/bat_key.asp
KarenL
JT, did you mean to add a link to your note above?
J.T.Layne
Here is a 'simplified' key for bats found in the Northeast United States that highlights the differences found between bats

Spotted for Missions

Mission
Bat Monitoring Project
Photographed
PublishedJanuary 17, 2012

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