Little Brown Bat Small-footed Bat (Myotis lucifugus) (Myotis leibii) The Little Brown Bat is one This bat is the smallest bat of the most common bat species in New York State. species and is found Weighing in at less than a nickel, throughout North America this colonial bat is often found including Alaska. This is a roosting in rock crevices, under colonial bat that can be boulders, and in quarries in the found in human dwellings, summer. They hibernate in caves but they will also roost in or mines in the winter. The trees during the summer. Small-footed Bat is a Species of During the winter, the Little Brown Bat will Special concern in New York. hibernate in caves or mines. It appears at least some Little Brown Bats on Fort Drum fly to the Indiana Bat other side of the Adirondacks to hibernate in the (Myotis sodalis) Champlain Valley. Little Brown Bats have Despite being called the experienced extensive population declines due to Indiana Bat, in 2006 White-nose Syndrome. there was approximately 35,000 bats, or 9% of the How Can You Tell Them Apart? entire population in New

Myotis or “mouse-eared” bats all look very similar York State. The number and are very difficult to tell apart. They all typically of Indiana bats has since have dark ears, faces, and wing membranes; glossy declined due to White- brown or gray fur; wingspans of 8-11 inches; and nose Syndrome. body lengths of 2-3 inches. Determining the species Fort Drum documented the first Indiana Bat on the can usually only be done by individuals trained to installation in August 2006. This is currently the only handle bats. If you happen to find a bat and are federally endangered species on Fort Drum. These interested to know what species you have, please colonial bats roost under contact Fort Drum or NYSDEC biologists. loose bark and in cracks in trees during the Northern Long-eared Bat summer. In winter, (Myotis septentrionalis) Indiana bats hibernate in caves or mines in The Northern groups of 300-400 bats Long-eared Bat can per square foot. also be found in

human structures, but is more of a forest-dwelling White-nose Syndrome

species than other White-nose Syndrome is a disease that has killed bats. It will use millions of bats across eastern North America loose bark, cavities, and cracks in trees for roosts including Fort Drum and New York State. Infected Natural Resources Branch during the summer. They use their large ears to bats usually have a white fungus growing around the echolocate or navigate through dense vegetation Environmental Division nose, wings, and ears. Infected bats have been Directorate of Public Works that other bats usually avoid. They will also use caves reported to display abnormal behaviors and and mines for hibernation in the winter. The Northern Fort Drum, NY movement during hibernation, which may ultimately Long-eared Bat has been severely impacted by lead to depletion of fat reserves and starvation. 315-772-4999 772-9636 White-nose Syndrome and was listed as threatened Humans cannot contract White-nose Syndrome. www.fortdrum.isportsman.net under the Endangered Species Act in 2015. 2018 Eastern Red Bat Silver-haired Bat

(Lasiurus borealis) (Lasionycteris noctivagans)

The Red Bat Silver-haired Bats are mostly is well-named solitary or roost in small and has groups. Traditionally, these bats distinct red The Indiana Bat has been are one of the rarest bat spe- hair. It is protected under the federal cies in New York State. Through Endangered Species Act sometimes survey efforts, half of the and New York state solitary and resident summer records in endangered species laws since 1967. The sometimes NYS have been documented on Northern Long-eared Bat was listed in 2015. Fort Drum. In the winter, they found in small family groups. While most bats give birth to a single The Department of Defense is not exempt migrate south. Because they pup, the Red Bat can have as many as 5 pups at a from environmental regulations. As a federal often follow ridgetops while time, although 3 is more typical. During the summer, agency, the U.S. Army and Fort Drum must migrating, many are killed by this bat will roost in the foliage of deciduous trees. comply with the Endangered Species Act and wind energy facilities. In the winter, they will either migrate or hibernate in ensure its actions do not negatively affect the hollow trees or leaf litter on the ground. Red bats are Indiana bat to ensure its continued survival. Tri-Colored Bat currently not known to contract White-nose Fort Drum works closely with the U.S. Fish & (Perimyotis subflavus) Wildlife Service’s New York Field Office to Syndrome; but they are impacted by wind energy Previously known as the ensure its obligations are being met. facilities as they migrate south. Eastern Pipistrelle, this is one Fort Drum has implemented many of New York State’s smaller Hoary Bat conservation efforts that benefit bats. species of bat. In the (Lasiurus cinereus)  A 2200 acre Bat Conservation Area was summer, these bats may Hoary Bats are New York’s largest bat species. established primarily in the Cantonment roost in clumps of leaves in Similar to the Red Bat, the Hoary Bat is solitary or Area to protect known Indiana bat trees. They are rarely found found in small family groups. They also commonly roosting and foraging areas from in houses or buildings. In the roost in the permanent development. winter, they roost in caves, foliage of rock crevices and mines. coniferous trees.  Since Indiana bats (and all bat species) Known to be a weak flyer, utilize trees for roosting and raising their in the summer. sometimes this bat is young in the summer, no trees are In the winter, mistaken for a moth in flight. generally allowed to be cut down between they often April 15 and October 15. Big Brown Bat migrate south. You can help bat conservation, too! (Eptesicus fuscus)

 Do not cut standing dead trees (snags) The Big Brown Bat Bat Facts! is New York’s which benefit many wildlife species or Bats are nocturnal, meaning living trees. If necessary, do so after largest cave- they are active at night, and can October or before April. dwelling bat. Like often be seen just after sunset the Little Brown hunting for food. They use  Put up a bat house in an appropriate Bat, this species is echolocation to find their way in the darkness. location to benefit bats and reduce also commonly insect pests. found in human All bats in New York—and 70% of all bats in dwellings. Other the world—are insectivores, or insect-eaters. summer roost sites Bats eat A LOT of insects! Each bat can eat up Most photos have been taken during bat surveys on include under bridges and under the loose bark and to 50% of its own body weight in insects each Fort Drum since 2007. Photos of the Tri-Colored Bat night (think of a 150 lbs person eating in cracks and cavities of trees. They can survive very (Larisa Bishop-Boros/www.wikipedia.com), Small- cold temperatures and can hibernate in areas too 75 lbs of food every day). footed Bat (Al Hicks/NYSDEC), and roosting Indiana bats (Andrew King/USFWS) are used with permission. cold for other bats including attics, but are more typically found in caves and mines.