Mine-aux-Pipistrelles Ecological Reserve

IUCN Category Ia - Strict Nature Reserve

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The Réserve écologique de la Mine -aux- Pipistrelles is an ecological reserve in the extreme south of the Canadian province of Quebec.

It was established in 2002 on an area of 3.24 ha. It is located 30 km southwest of Magog in the MRC Memphrémagog.

The small area protects a talc mine, so a Steatitbergbau, which was shut down in 1994. The former Van Reet mine, already operated in the 1930s by Baker Talc Limited, is thus the only underground reserve of this nature It is only essential that there thousands of Fledertieren hibernate ( pipistrelles ). These are the five species Myotis lucifugus, Myotis septentrionalis and Myotis leibii - they belong to the genus of mouse ears - then Eptesicus fuscus from the kind of broad wings and bats Pipistrellus subflavus from the kind of Pipistrelle bats. For the common pipistrelle Pipistrellus subflavus this is the most northerly wintering area and the only one in Quebec. It is also the only species of this genus in America. In addition, she is the only representative of the subgenus Perimyotis. They often divided wintering areas with Myotis lucifugus and Myotis septentrionalis, as well as in the Van Reet mine. Also known as the Eastern Small -footed Myotis Myotis in the English-speaking America leibii is the smallest representative of the bats in America dar. In Quebec they are called Chauve - souris therefore pygmée.