ACOUSTIC SURVEYS REVEAL HOARY BAT (LASIURUS CINEREUS) AND LONG-LEGGED MYOTIS (MYOTIS VOLANS) IN YUKON.

The bat fauna of Alaska and northwestern Canada remains poorly known, principally due to a lack of dedicated surveys. To better assess the diversity of bats in the region, we conducted full-spectrum acoustic surveys at several sites in Yukon, Canada. During our surveys we obtained the 1st acoustic records of Hoary Bat (Lasiurus cinereus) and Long-Legged Myotis (Myotis volans) in Yukon. Neither species had been documented previously in the territory, but one or both species were known from adjacent Alaska, British Columbia, and Northwest Territories. Characteristics of certain echolocation calls of Hoary Bats and Long-legged Myotis are difficult to confuse with other species that might also occur in the region. In addition, we made other noteworthy recordings; however, species identification for these other echolocation calls was ambiguous. These 1st records significantly increase our knowledge of the ranges of these bat species in Yukon, Canada. Further acoustic surveys, coupled with live captures, will help us further understand the diversity and distribution of bats in Yukon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]