We report here the 1st evidence of the Brazilian Free-tailed Bat (Tadarida brasiliensis) in Canada. Historic distribution records of this species in the Pacific Northwest region of North America include southern Oregon and southern Idaho, but not British Columbia. During 2014–2016 we conducted bat acoustic surveys in Canada on Salt Spring Island, British Columbia, sampling 1342 detector-nights. We recorded multiple bat-call sequences during 2016 showing pulse and sequence attributes consistent with those of the Brazilian Free-tailed Bat, and we recorded 2 such call sequences in 2015. Calls were detected from May until September, suggesting summer residency by adults, rather than stray post-natal dispersals from the south. The Brazilian Free-tailed Bat is a fast long-distance flyer, and acoustic surveys outside of its historic range may benefit from surveillance for this species.
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Northwestern Naturalist
Vol. 98 • No. 2
Autumn 2017
Vol. 98 • No. 2
Autumn 2017
acoustic
bats
Brazilian Free-tailed Bat
British Columbia
Canada
echolocation
Salt Spring Island