Northern Myotis
Myotis septentrionalis
This bat species has undergone an incredibly rapid population decline due to a disease known as White-nose Syndrome (WNS). The disease is named for the white fungus that grows on the muzzle of bats while they hibernate. Affected bats arouse frequently during hibernation, depleting their stored water, electrolytes and fat, and making them more likely to die. Most net surveys conducted at 11 sites in PEI National Park in 2019 did not capture a single Northern Myotis where they were previously caught 15 years earlier. Bat monitoring by the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative, watershed groups and provincial wildlife biologists indicates that this species remains exceedingly rare in PEI. However, there are minimal acoustic detections each year that fit the echolocation call characteristics for Northern Myotis, making it possible there are still individuals on the Island.