Eastern Small-footed Myotis

Credit Sandy Dobbyn

Myotis leibii

Federal Government status: Not at risk

Provincial Government status: Endangered

Have you seen this species at risk? Report your sighting.

Description

True to its name, the eastern small-footed myotis’ (bat) feet are only 7-8 mm long, less than 1cm!
This bat is one of the smallest and rarest bats in North America, only about 8 cm long and just 4-5 grams (roughly the weight of a nickel).
Their wingspan is 21-25 cm.
Males and females are similar in color and size.
This bat’s fur has black roots and shiny light brown tips for an overall yellow-brown appearance. Its face mask, ears and wings are black, and underside is gray-brown.

A nocturnal hunter, the eastern small footed myotis hunts for primarily flying insects including beetles, mosquitos, moths, and flies.

Mating is usually in late summer or fall but occasionally happens in winter.
Both males and females have multiple mates.
Females give birth once a year between May and July. When they give birth they’re often found in large groups of mostly females called maternity colonies.
At birth, eastern small-footed bats weigh 20 to 35% of their mother’s weight. This is large for a newborn explaining why the mother has one at a time.
Eastern small-footed bats can live 6-12 years in the wild.

In the spring and summer, the eastern small-footed myotis roosts in various habitats such as rock crevices, rock outcrops, tunnels, buildings, underneath bridges, caves, mines, or tree hollows.
In summer, these bats often change their roosting locations every day.
In winter, these bats often hibernate in the coldest parts of shallow (less than 150 meters long) caves and mines. They will return to the same hibernation site every year.

White-nose Syndrome (WNS) has led to catastrophic declines of bat populations in north-eastern North America. WNS is caused by a fungus that likely originated in Europe. It grows in humid, cold environments, typical of caves where bats hibernate.
It was first identified in a cave near Albany, New York in 2006. By 2010, WNS was confirmed in Ontario. The mortality rates at infected hibernation sites in Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick are over 80%.
WNS is expanding in Canada at average rate range of 200-400 km/yr. If the spread of WNS continues at the current rate, the entire Canadian population would likely be impacted within 11-22 years.

Please report any unusual bat activity such as flying outside in daytime or deaths to the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks and Forestry at 800-667-1940.
You can help reduce the spread. Do not enter non-commercial caves and abandoned mines where bats may be present.
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