Bat Surveys at Badlands National Park, South Dakota

Bogan, Michael; Osborne, Jeff; Clark, Jennifer

In general, the bat community at Badlands National Park appears healthy and without obvious threats. M. ciliolabrum continues to be the most common bat and is likely favored by the abundance of small cracks and crevices available for roosting. There appear to be no obvious short term threats to such roosts. We caught fewer M. volans than previous researchers, but are not aware of any threats to M. volans. Fringed myotis was the fourth most common bat. Towsend's big-eared bat was the third most common species. The proportion of bats that can be captured is dismally small. Thus, we assume that there are greater numbers of all these species on the park. Badlands National Park may be marginal habitat for the two resident species with the smallest number of captures (M. lucifugus and M. eptentrionalis) but we are aware of no threats to their existence elsewhere in the region. All resident species appear to be reproducing on, or at least near, the Park and we found no evidence of sick or injured bats. We have no direct evidence of specific habitat use by the different species but inferentially it appears their habitat needs are being met by current resources on the Park. Major construction road projects near Cliff Shelf, and perhaps Norbeck Pass, should be carefully evaluated for possible negative impact on bats as there may be significant roosts in these areas. Other planned habit modifications, e.g., prescribed burning that might affect forested areas, should likewise consider possible effects on bats. Further research on bats at Badlands National Park could include detailed studies of one or more species, identifying roosting sites (especially maternity roosts) and habitat use through radio telemetry of Cyalume capsules, and elaboration of the bat fauna of the southern unit of the Park, if that is a priority for NPS.

Bat Surveys at Badlands National Park, South Dakota

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