Fringed bat COSEWIC assessment and status report: chapter 11

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Summary of Status Report

The Fringed Bat ranges throughout much of western North America. In Canada where it reaches its northern limits, it is known only from the intermontane grasslands of British Columbia, although it could also inhabit coastal areas in south-western British Columbia.  Most of our knowledge on this species’ general biology including roosting habits, diet, and reproduction is based on studies done in the United States. Known maternity colonies in Canada are in buildings. Maternity colonies are probably also located in crevices of cliffs and possibly trees but this needs to be confirmed with radio-tracking studies. Night roosts are in mines and buildings. No data exist on population size or trends in Canada. The Fringed Bat is rarely captured in surveys with mist nets and harp traps, but it is unknown if this can be attributed to rarity or capture avoidance. Nothing is known about the distribution of the Canadian population in winter. Winter surveys of caves and mines within the Canadian range have not found this species. Limiting factors include disturbance of maternity colonies and night roosts, the loss of riparian habitat and possible impacts of pesticides on its prey. No more than 10% of the Canadian range falls within protected areas and nearly 50% of the range is on private or Indian Reserve lands where habitat is excluded from protection under the British Columbia Forest and Range Practices code.