The following mammals are considered species at risk. If you see any species at risk, please Report your observations to HHLT, or directly to our project biologist, Paul Heaven, Glenside Ecological Services Ltd. Click here to download the Species at Risk Observation Summary Sheet and send it to us (see contact info) or send an email to Paul Heaven, pheaven@glenside-eco.ca
Eastern Small-footed Myotis
The Eastern Small-footed Myotis (Myotis leibii) has not been assessed nationally and is categorized as Endangered provincially.
The Eastern Small-footed Myotis is a small brown bat with smooth, glossy brown fur, black ears and a distinctive black mask across the face. As the name suggests, the Eastern Small-footed Myotis has delicate feet compared to other bats of similar size.
As an aerial insectivore, the Eastern Small-footed Myotis feeds primarily on moths, true flies and beetles. It forages in forests but also over water bodies and has been documented foraging over a peat bog in the County of Haliburton.
Although little is known about the roosting behaviour of the Eastern Small-footed Myotis data suggests it utilizes small spaces in buildings and rocky areas. In the County of Haliburton, a single male bat was documented roosting under a loose rock on rock in the Highlands Corridor. Maternity colonies consist of a small number of females and pups with typically less than 20 individuals and may include some adult males.
The Eastern Small-footed Myotis hibernates singly or with others in caves and abandoned mines. Microclimatic conditions show a preference for cold, dry locations in narrow cracks in the wall or ceiling.
The primary threat to the Eastern Small-footed Myotis is White-nose Syndrome, which is an exotic fungus that presents as a white substance on the muzzles, ears and wings. Causing lesions in the skin and arousing infected bats from torpor, White-nose Syndrome results in overwinter mortality. Other threats include alterations to habitat (hibernacula, roosts and/or foraging habitat) and direct mortality from wind turbine interactions.
Eastern Wolf
The Eastern Wolf (Canis lycaon) is categorized as Threatened, nationally and provincially.
The Eastern Wolf is an intermediate-sized canid with a generally reddish-brown/tawny coat. Although the range of the Eastern Wolf in Ontario extends from west of Algonquin to the Ottawa Valley and south to Frontenac Park, the population is discontinuous and mainly confined to protected areas (Algonquin, Killarney, Queen Elizabeth II and Kawartha Highlands PP). Living in family-based packs and with a territory size often near 200 km2, the Eastern Wolf prefers deciduous and mixed forest landscapes with low human density. The Eastern Wolf primarily preys on White-tailed Deer and Beaver, but their diet may shift to Moose in the winter.
Human caused mortality from hunting and trapping is the primary threat to the Eastern Wolf. As the population declines and conspecific mates are less available, hybridization of the Eastern Wolf with the Eastern Coyote may also threaten the population.
Little Brown Myotis
The Little Brown Myotis (Myotis lucifugus) is categorized as Endangered, nationally and provincially.
The Little Brown Myotis is a small brown bat with black ears, black wings and a black tail membrane. The fur is bi-colored with a darker base and glossy brown ends. The tragus (a tongue-like projection of the outer ear) is long and thin but rounded at the tip, thereby differing from the pointed tragus of the Northern Myotis.
Although the Little Brown Myotis is an aerial insectivore feeding on insects (e.g. moths, mayflies, beetles and caddisflies) and spiders, they can also glean prey within forests, and along lakes and stream margins. Foraging occurs in open habitat such as wetlands and roads, and in open canopy forests.
Maternity roosts of the Little Brown Myotis may include hundreds of females with young pups and are typically found in anthropogenic structures such as attics, barns and bat boxes. Males roost individually and use a variety of structures.
The Little Brown Myotis hibernates in caves, abandoned mines, wells and tunnels and may use the same hibernaculum as the Northern Myotis and Tricolored Bat.
The primary threat to the Little Brown Myotis is White-nose Syndrome, which is an exotic fungus that presents as a white substance on the muzzles, ears and wings. Causing lesions in the skin and arousing infected bats from torpor, White-nose Syndrome results in overwinter mortality. Alterations to habitat (hibernacula, roosts and/or foraging habitat) may also be detrimental. The sealing of buildings and resulting loss of maternity roost sites is of particular concern. Direct mortality from wind turbine interactions is also a threat.
Northern Myotis
The Northern Myotis (Myotis septentrionalis) is categorized as Endangered, nationally and provincially.
The Northern Myotis is a small bat, similar in size and coloration to the Little Brown Myotis. Distinguishable features include longer ears that extend beyond the nose when pressed forward, and a longer tail and larger wing area. The tragus (a tongue-like projection of the outer ear) is long and thin with a sharp pointed tip, unlike the rounded tip of the Little Brown Myotis.
The Northern Myotis is an aerial insectivore but will also glean prey. Unlike the Little Brown Myotis, the Northern Myotis forages more frequently along and within forests, including mature hardwood stands, and with a preference for ridges and midslopes. Prey consists of insects such as moths, beetles, wasps and flies, and spiders.
Females rarely roost in anthropogenic structures, opting instead for large snags in mature and old growth shade tolerant deciduous forests. They roost in small colonies, switching roost trees every 1-5 days. Males roost alone under loose bark or within cavities of trees.
The Northern Myotis hibernates in caves, abandoned mines, wells and tunnels and may use the same hibernaculum as the Little Brown Myotis and Tricolored bat. Microclimatic conditions indicate a preference for cooler sections of the cave than that of the Little Brown Myotis.
The primary threat to the Northern Myotis is White-nose Syndrome, which is an exotic fungus that presents as a white substance on the muzzles, ears and wings. Causing lesions in the skin and arousing infected bats from torpor, White-nose Syndrome results in overwinter mortality. Other threats include alterations to habitat (hibernacula, roosts and/or foraging habitat) and direct mortality from wind turbine interactions.
Tricolored Bat
The Tricolored Bat (Perimyotis subflavus) is categorized as Endangered, nationally and provincially.
The Tricolored Bat is a small bat with distinctive fur that is black at the base, yellow in the middle and brown at the tip giving the bat an overall reddish-brown or yellowish-brown color.
Feeding primarily on flies, beetles wasps and moths, the Tricolored Bat tends to forage over still waters, rivers and in forest gaps, edges and along trails.
Maternity roosts of the Tricolored Bat occur in trees and dead clusters of leaves but may also occur in barns or other similar structures. Females roost alone or in small colonies and males roost individually.
The Tricolored Bat hibernates in caves, abandoned mines, wells and tunnels and may use the same hibernaculum as the Little Brown Myotis and Northern Myotis. Microclimatic conditions show a preference for the deepest part of caves or mines, where the temperature is least variable.
The primary threat to the Tricolored Bat is White-nose Syndrome, which is an exotic fungus that presents as a white substance on the muzzles, ears and wings. Causing lesions in the skin and arousing infected bats from torpor, White-nose Syndrome results in overwinter mortality. Other threats include alterations to habitat (hibernacula, roosts and/or foraging habitat) and direct mortality from wind turbine interactions.