The little brown bat or little brown myotis (
Myotis lucifugus ) is a species of myotis that
is widespread across most of North America and is federally endangered and yellow
listed in BC.
In winter months, the little brown bat leaves summer roost sites to migrate to
overwintering hibernacula where it will remain during the colder months. In British
Columbia, little is known about these winter locations. What is known however, is that
the little brown bat hibernates in caves, abandoned mines and similar sites with
relatively stable temperatures. Additional parameters have also been identified by
the client.
To arrest or reverse the decline of the species, critical habitat must be identified.
Critical habitat as defined by the Species at Risk Act (SARA) is habitat that is
necessary for the survival or recovery of the species. For this species, critical habitat
can include overwintering, summering and swarming habitat. When critical habitat is
identified either in a recovery strategy or an action plan, SARA requires that critical
habitat then be protected.
This project aims to identify potential overwintering habitat in the Elk Valley of British
Columbia and Alberta.
