Bats of Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park and the Taiya Inlet Watershed: 2013-2014 Survey Results with notes on habitats and roosts

Olson, Link; Fiely, Jonathan

Bats were surveyed during the summers of 2013 and 2014 at Klondike Gold Rush National Historic Park (KLGO) and surrounding Taiya Inlet watershed in the vicinity of Skagway, Alaska. A combination of techniques was used, including mist-netting, passive acoustic monitoring, and a review of specimen records in museum collections worldwide. We confirmed the presence of four species in the region: Little Brown Myotis (Myotis lucifugus), Keen’s Myotis (M. keenii), Long-legged Myotis (M. volans), and Silver-haired Bat (Lasionycteris noctivagans). For the latter three species, these represent northern range extensions in Alaska. Keen’s myotis and Silver-haired bats had been detected acoustically in KLGO, but not verified by capture. An active maternity colony of M. lucifugus was confirmed at a residence in Skagway, although residents could not confirm year-round habitation. Evidence of long-distance movements of M. lucifugus around White Pass suggests the area may be an important stopover site for bats migrating to and from interior Canada or that bats are using high-elevation habitats during the summer. M. keenii do not appear present north of White Pass despite intensive survey work done in Yukon, supporting the preference of these species for temperate coastal forests, but little work has been done in the areas of British Columbia adjacent to the park. Finally, we present preliminary data on roost and habits of M. keenii in and around Skagway. Data from four radio-tagged M. keenii in 2014 supported use of forest edge habitat by foraging bats and nearly exclusive use of dead, standing snags—primarily hemlock—as day roosts. Bats appeared to use the space between the trunk and loose ‘shingles’ of bark 1-4 meters from the ground, with 1-3 individuals present at each site. No maternity colonies for this species were found. This study highlights the importance of using a variety of survey techniques in the inventory of rare, cryptic, and/or difficult-to-study species such as bats, as no single technique detected all species present in and around the park. Detailed surveys of more remote areas with different forest structures and hydrologic features may yet confirm the presence of species presumed present but not detected, including Myotis californicus and possibly M. yumanensis, the latter of which has only recently been confirmed in Alaska. Additional research is needed to establish both the seasonal movement patterns and location of winter hibernacula used by bats in this region. These data would reveal the degree of isolation and potential susceptibility of the area’s bat population to newly emergent diseases such as White-nose Syndrome, which is currently affecting bats in similar habitats to the east.

Bats of Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park and the Taiya Inlet Watershed: 2013-2014 Survey Results with notes on habitats and roosts

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