Bat survey of the Kootenai National Forest, Montana
Subtitle: 1994
By: a report to USDA Forest Service, Kootenai National Forest; submitted by Paul Hendricks ... [et al.].
Contributors: Hendricks, P.; Jurist, Katharine A.; Genter, David Leon.; Reichel, James D.; Montana Natural Heritage Program.; Kootenai National Forest (Agency : U.S.)
Publisher: Montana Natural Heritage Program
Published: 1995
Place of publication: Helena, Mont
Language: eng
Number of pages: 48
Subjects: Bats -- Kootenai National Forest (Mont. and Idaho) -- Surveys.; Bats -- Kootenai National Forest (Mont. and Idaho) -- Geographical distribution.; Bats -- Montana -- Flathead County -- Surveys.; Bats -- Montana -- Lincoln County -- Surveys.; Bats -- Montana -- Sanders County -- Surveys.; Anabat bat detection systems.; Bats -- Detection -- Montana -- Equipment and supplies.; Bats -- Habitat -- Kootenai National Forest (Mont. and Idaho); Long-eared myotis -- Kootenai National Forest (Mont. and Idaho); Western small-footed myotis -- Kootenai National Forest (Mont. and Idaho); Long-legged myotis -- Kootenai National Forest (Mont. and Idaho); Big brown bat -- Kootenai National Forest (Mont. and Idaho); Silver-haired bat -- Kootenai National Forest (Mont. and Idaho); Hoary bat -- Kootenai National Forest (Mont. and Idaho); Plecotus townsendii -- Kootenai National Forest (Mont. and Idaho); Myotis yumanensis -- Kootenai National Forest (Mont. and Idaho); Little brown bat -- Kootenai National Forest (Mont. and Idaho); Myotis californicus -- Kootenai National Forest (Mont. and Idaho); Mist netting.; Mixed conifer forest.; Kootenai National Forest (Mont. and Idaho)
Genres: Surveys.
Description: Five species of vespertilionid bat were identified during field surveys on the Kootenai National Forest in July, August, and September 1994.  Many of the 54 sites surveyed were within 200 m of water (rivers, streams, beaver ponds, marshes), but less than 30% of the sites were actually abutting wetland habitat.  Most sites surveyed were in stand of mixed conifers.  Species identified were Myotis evotis, Lasionycteris noctivagans, Eptesicus fuscus, Lasiurus cinereus, and Plecotus townsendii.  Most Myotis species cannot be distinguished from one another with bat detectors, the survey tool used in 1994.  Unidentified Myotis were detected at 26 sites; as many as six species (M. yumanensis, M. thysanodes, M. lucifugus, M. volans, M. californicus, and M. ciliolabrum) may have been present and included in this grouping.  Field surveys with mist nets in 1993 revealed the presence of the last four Myotis species on the Kootenai National Forest, as well as M. evotis and Lasionycteris noctivagans.  Myotis sp. And Eptesicus fuscus were detected on all six Districts of the Kootenai National Forest in 1994.  The other four species were detected on at least three of the six Districts.  The Three Rivers District was the only unit where all five identified species of bats were detected, but at least three species were detected on all Districts.  Combined results from the 1993 and 1994 surveys showed the presence of nine species of vespertilionid bat on the Kootenai National Forest.  Four species (M. evotis, M. lucifugus, Lasionycteris noctivagans, Eptesicus fuscus) have been detected on all Forest Districts.  Currently, little is known about the reproductive activities of bats on the Kootenai National Forest, but ten species (M. yumanensis, M. lucifugus, M. evotis, M. volans, M. californicus, M. ciliolabrum, Lasionycteris noctivagans, Eptesicus fuscus, Lasiurus borealis, and Plecotus townsendii) may breed on Forest Service land.  Overwinter occurrence and distribution of bats on the Kootenai National Forest remain virtually unknown.