Acoustic Bat Inventory of Cuyahoga Valley National Park 2021-2022: Survey of Bat Species Ultrasonic Acoustic Monitoring

Herbruck, Megan; Knapp, Samantha; Trimbath, Ryan

Bats are facing increasing pressures from disappearing habitat, urbanization, and the spread of white nose syndrome, which has caused significant declines in many species. All 10 bat species commonly found in Ohio have been state listed (Endangered, Threatened or Species of Concern), two of these species, the Indiana and Northern long-eared bat are listed as Endangered by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). Another Ohio bat, the Tricolored bat, has been proposed to be federally listed as and is in a review period. As an important resource for habitat preservation, Cuyahoga Valley National Park (CUVA) offers habitat for species of conservation concern, including bats, which can find important habitat to support their year-round cycle (including hibernacula and maternity roosts). A parkwide bat inventory was conducted in 2002-2003 focused on the Indiana bat. However, due to White-nose syndrome impacting bats at CUVA significant changes to bat populations have occurred since 2012. This study serves as a post-WNS inventory to document the species of bats that are present at CUVA and quantify their relative abundance. We conducted acoustic monitoring surveys in the summers of 2021 and 2021 using Wildlife Acoustic Song Meter Mini Bat Ultrasonic Recorders, deployed at 47 locations throughout the park for a total of 3,371 hours. This effort resulted in 58,660 bat recordings that were auto-identified using Kaleidoscope Pro software (version 5.4.1). Eight bat species were detected at CUVA, including the Big brown bat, Silver Haired bat, Red bat, Hoary bat, Little brown bat, Evening bat, Northern long-eared bat, and Tricolored bat. Despite the recent declines in the Northern long-eared bat remains at CUVA and this inventory identifies areas still being used and documents the importance of protecting and restoring large forest tracts.