Wood Buffalo National Park

Bat Activity and Use of Hibernacula in Wood Buffalo National Park, Alberta

Research in Wood Buffalo National Park reveals significant insights into bat species diversity and seasonal activity, particularly around hibernacula. Over three years of acoustic monitoring and mist netting, scientists documented the presence of Little Brown Myotis (Myotis lucifugus), Northern Myotis (Myotis septentrionalis), and Big Brown Bats (Eptesicus fuscus) in the park's cave hibernaculum. Additionally, migratory species such as Hoary Bats (Lasiurus cinereus) and Eastern Red Bats (Lasiurus borealis) were identified through echolocation recordings, with Hoary Bats present from mid-May to early October and Eastern Red Bats from mid-June to early August. Resident bat activity peaked between mid-June and early September. The study also recorded cave temperatures during hibernation, providing a first approximation of species diversity and seasonal patterns in this northern Canadian ecosystem.