2011 Annual Report of NWT Wildlife Research Permits and Western ...

Wildlife Species Research:
Bats
LONG-TERM PLANS .
AND RECOMMENDATIONS:
The following recommendations are made regarding
the South Slave Region and the surrounding WBNP area:
Acoustic monitoring year-round along Highway 5 in
WBNP to determine if this highway is a migration route
for bats in the spring and/or fall. Simultaneous monitoring
along the Slave and Peace Rivers may also illustrate
patterns of bat migration especially that of the
tree-roosting bats (hoary, red and silver-haired) that are
likely to move out of the area by late summer.
Summer bat surveys (acoustic and capture). It would
be especially interesting to determine whether big brown
bats reside in the area during summer given its absence
from the Fort McMurray / Fort McKay areas to the south
of WBNP.
Monitoring of the hibernacula described in this survey,
including regular annual or biennial inspections (counts
and checking for signs of White-Nose Syndrome).
Acoustic monitoring year-round would be informative
to understand patterns of use. Periodic mist netting
would allow for patterns of use by species and sex to be
known. Continuous population estimates will be needed
to monitor this hibernaculum as White-Nose Syndrome
moves west; this disease has proven to be especially
devastating to little brown myotis and northern myotis
populations in eastern North America.
Monitoring of microclimate (temperature and relative
humidity) in both cave hibernacula, for comparison with
each other and with future hibernacula, or to use in
predicting use of other sinkholes/caves by hibernating bats.
Radio tracking in early fall to locate new hibernacula.
Big brown bats are larger and can therefore carry larger
transmitters, which last longer and are stronger, therefore
more likely to be detected from airplane. This may lead
to finding mixed species hibernacula.
Locate local Myotis lucifugus maternity colonies. This
will provide opportunity to radio track adult females at
the end of the summer to potentially locate hibernacula;
this may facilitate an understanding of the male bias in
the hibernacula and mist net captures during this study.
Exploration and late summer investigation of sinkholes
known by local people, such as in the Lobstick Creek area.
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT:
Following the inventory work, I made a public presentation
about bats including the findings from this survey at the
Parks Canada office in Fort Smith, NWT.
Little brown bat.
Photo: C. Lausen
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