Bat hibernacula surveys in Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve: 2015 status report
Slocum K, Stefanic T, Rodhouse TJ. 2016. Bat hibernacula surveys in Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve: 2015 status report. Natural Resource Report. NPS/UCBN/NRR—2016/1138. National Park Service. Fort Collins, Colorado
Between January and March of 2015, forty-nine of Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve’s (CRMO) 400+ known caves were surveyed for hibernating bats. This is the third year of annual bat hibernation surveys at CRMO. While only 14 caves (29%) were found to be occupied, 7 were documented as hibernacula for the first time. Thirty-three of the caves visited have been surveyed in previous years. Bats in hibernacula discovered during this season’s survey were identified as Townsend’s big-eared bats (Corynorhinus townsendii), western small-footed myotis (Myotis ciliolabrum), and other undifferentiated species of myotis. Temperature and humidity readings were recorded throughout caves and in the immediate space of hibernating bats. We found that Townsend’s big-eared bats generally hibernated in areas with significantly lower relative humidity than undifferentiated myotis species (p = 0.0027). A new high count of 42 bats was recorded in Arco Tunnel, the longest monitored cave in the monument. The 2015 survey increased the total number of known hibernacula in CRMO from 8 to 17. Acoustic monitors were also deployed to assess the end of hibernation. Two Petterson D500x units were set at the mouths of Nick Cave and Arco Tunnel and the collected audio files show a strong increase in recorded activity starting on April 16th for both caves.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Slocum, Kathleen; Stefanic, Todd; Rodhouse, Thomas
- Date of Issue
- 2016-02
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- Units
- CRMO , NRSS , UCBN
- Keywords
- Bat, bat monitoring, Hibernacula, mammal, monitoring, survey, Surveys, winter