
Since 2021 we have been using passive acoustic monitoring (audio recording) technology to create a species inventory of the bats found on our property in Labrador West. This also allows us to loosely track bat activity throughout various habitats, including both industrialized and naturalized areas on site, both of which are influenced by mining activity.
Throughout our studies we have recorded a variety of bat calls belonging to four different species: the little brown myotis (Myotis lucifugus), Northern myotis (Myotis septentrionalis), silver-haired bat (Lasionycteris noctivagans), and hoary bat (Lasiurus cinereus). The little brown myotis and Northern myotis are known for the region and remain here year-round. However, the silver-haired and hoary bats are migratory species that spend their summer months in Canada before overwintering further south. The work that we’ve done at IOC has yielded extensions to the known ranges of these migratory bat species, as they were not previously thought to visit this area.
All four of the bat species that we detected are protected under the Newfoundland and Labrador Endangered Species Act. We recognize the importance of conserving these endangered species, and are taking action to protect them. In 2022 and 2023, we installed a total of ten bat boxes on IOC property in Labrador West. These bat boxes provide roosting sites for bats to rest in during the day. Bat box construction followed guidelines set out by the Canadian Wildlife Federation to ensure that they were built to provide optimal roosting conditions. We are now completing bat box surveys each summer to assess bat use and alter the locations of the boxes as necessary.
Each year we build on our knowledge of bats and adapt our techniques to effectively protect bats on our property. No matter what, you can trust us to look out for these nocturnal creatures!
Bank swallowsThe bank swallow is a small migratory songbird that moves north to Canada each spring to breed and raise its young over the summer. Unlike most other songbirds, which build nests in trees, bank swallows dig nest burrows in substrates such as silty sand and other suitable materials. |
BatsWelcome to the understudied world of bats!Here at IOC, we recognize that we have a unique opportunity to contribute to the scientific study of bats, a nocturnal animal that has historically been misunderstood. |
PollinatorsThe smallest and busiest of creatures are often the most overlooked. Insects such as bumble bees, butterflies, wasps, and moths play a vital role in keeping an ecosystem in good health by pollinating flowering species so plants can reproduce. |
Grey wolvesThe Labrador grey wolf (Canis lupus labradorius) is a subspecies of grey wolf (Canis lupus) native to Labrador and Northern Quebec. |
