BATS ON P.E.|. 
     
    
   
   
    
     by Geoff Hogan, 
     
     U.P.E.I. Biology Department 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
        
     
             
     
    
   
   
    
         
     
    
   
   
    
     / / g 
     
     \\ \ .\, _,?///(’<7zfl///// 
     
    
   
   
    
     \ \\\ 
     
    
   
   
    
     Relatively little is 
     
     known about bats on Prince 
     
     Edward Island except as 
     
     unwanted intruders in attics 
     
     :and summer cottages. While almost 
     
     -everyone can recall at least one encounter 
     
    

    
     with these fascinating mammals few people 
     
     have taken the time to observe them 
     
     closely. We know that our most common 
     
     species is the Little Brown Bat (Myotis 
     
     lucifugus lucifuggg) but what other 
     
     species, if any, occur here? Cameron 
     
     (1958) reported seeing what was believed 
     
     to be a Red Bat (Lasiurus borealis)near 
     
     Fortune Bridge on June 7, 1954 but no 
     
     Positive identification was made. Other 
     
     species that occur in New Brunswick and 
     
    
   
   
    
        
     
           
     
    
   
   
    
     “1“ Nova Scotia and that may possibly be 
     
     --—- found here include, in addition to the 
     
     species already mentioned: Keen's Bat (Myotis keenii); Small-Footed Bat (Myotis 
     
     leibii); Silver-Haired Bat (Lasionycteris noctivagans): Eastern Pipistrelle 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
     (Pipistrellus subflavus); Big Brown Bat (Eptesicus fuscus); and Hoary Bat 
     
     (Lasiurus cinereus). _ 
     
    

    
     The general habits, roosting sites, etc. vary among species with some 
     
     favoring heavily wooded areas and others more settled habitats where unoccupied 
     
     (and sometimes occupied!) buildings occur. Some species are gregarious and others 
     
     solitary. There are many myths and superstitions surrounding these much maligned 
     
     insect eaters. Many people shudder at the thought of a bat hopelessly tangled 
     
     in their hair; however such occurrances are extremely rare. Any bats swooping 
     
     over people's heads are after mosquitoes and other biting insects so, in fact, 
     
     the bats are performing a useful service. 
     
    

    
     In order for us to learn more about these interesting mammals and their 
     
     status on P.E.I. we would appreciate receiving information con- . 
     
     cerning roosting places, spring arrival and fall departure dates, yx 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
     information on overwintering (if indeed, this does occur on 
     
     P.E.I.), as well as receiving any specimens that may be 
     
     obtained. For further information on bats refer to the follow- 
     
     ing articles available at the U.P.E.I. Library. 
     
    
   
   
    
     References: 
     
    
   
   
    
     Banfield, A.W.F. 1977. The Mammals of Canada. Nat. Mus. of 
     
     Natural Sciences. U. of Toronto Press. Toronto 438 p. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Cameron, A.W. 1958. Mammals of the islands in the Gulf of 
     
     St. Lawrence. Nat. Mus. of Canada, bull. no. 154. 165 p.