Novel Bat (Myotis lucifugus) Sighting

Observation: We are observing bats in Goodnews Bay. We need to know where they had come from and what the effects might be of having them here in the community. What kind of new diseases could come from them - or if any, what type of bugs and other new things these bats will bring? Are the bats beneficial or not and what should we be aware of? Arlene Shimanek, and Alice Julius, Native Village of Goodnews Bay

LEO says: According to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, the mostly likely type of bat is a Little Brown Bat, which are generally considered beneficial and native to some parts of Alaska. "Little brown bats (Myotis lucifugus) are small, flying, nocturnal mammals. Their fur varies in color from cinnamon-buff to dark brown on their back, and buffy to pale gray on their underside. The hairs on their back have long glossy tips. Juveniles are more uniformly dark brown in color. Little brown bats typically weigh 5–9 grams and are 3–4 ½ inches in length. With a wingspan of only 8–9 inches, the little brown bat can reach speeds up to 22 miles per hour, with an average speed of 12 miles per hour." It is cool you are seeing them in Goodnews Bay. Some people actually put up bat boxes in trees to attract brown bats. They are interesting to watch and they help keep the insects under control. Little brown bats range over much of Southeast, Southcentral, Western and Interior Alaska. For more information, click here.

Media: (2015-10-04) Alaska Dispatch News: Handful of bat species call Alaska home – Although six species of bats are known to live in Alaska, the little brown bat is the most common. It is the only one found in Southcentral, Interior and Western Alaska. It consumes its meals in flight, eating up to half of its body weight in insects each night.

Video: "Battle For Bats: Surviving White Nose Syndrome was produced for the USDA Forest Service by Ravenswood Media. It shows how government and private agencies have come together to search for solutions to help our bat populations overcome WNS. The public can also play a role in the future of bats by providing habitat and surveying their populations. Bats are a critical component in a healthy forest ecosystem, plus they provide significant agricultural pest control and pollination. Their survival is essential for a sustainable natural environment."