FAIRBANKS, Alaska (KTVF) – Bats live in interior Alaska. And, as featured in the Cooperative Extension Service’s lecture series on Alaska’s spooky science, these creatures are some of the state’s most unique residents.
“Right now we have five different species,” explained wildlife ecologist Jessica Reimer. “And while they all eat slightly different things, roost in slightly different locations, and have slightly different acoustic echolocation calls, they all fit into this niche of this aerial insectivore that forages at altitude. Meet the night.
Most of Alaska’s bats live in the southeastern part of the state, but one species makes interior Alaska its home.
“The only species recorded in interior Alaska is the small brown bat. Species diversity in interior Alaska is really low,” Reimer said.
Another unusual factor is its life cycle. Small mouse-sized animals typically live 1-2 years and can produce dozens of offspring, while much larger animals like brown bears can live up to 30 years and produce only a small number of offspring. .
“Bats seem to be an anomaly on this size spectrum,” Reimer added. “It’s similar to bats in that the little brown bat can live to be 30 to 40 years old and only gives birth to one pup per year, provided it has sufficient fat resources.” They wake up from hibernation with their reserves. ”
By October, all of Alaska’s small brown bats are likely to have settled into long winter hibernation, but by May they will begin to emerge again.
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