Behavioral responses of bats to gates at caves and mines
Spanjer GR and Fenton MB. 2005. Behavioral responses of bats to gates at caves and mines. Wildlife Society Bulletin. 33(3):1101-1112
Bats' responses to gates were assessed including, flight speeds, flight behavior, and vocalizations. A total of 28 sites from Ontario to Tennessee were studied. Bats always circled and retreated more often and passed directly through less often at gates (most at mock gates). Higher bat activity and smaller gate size corresponded with more fly-retreat and circling behavior. Bat flight behavior did not differ based on spacing of vertical gate supports, number of entrances, or gate position. To minimize impacts on bats, gates should 1) be erected in large areas, 2) have a bat chute or open top, 3) be placed at entrances (unless predation is a problem), 4) be placed on flat ground (not on an incline), and 5) be erected gradually over a period of several weeks or months when feasible.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Spanjer, Genevieve; Fenton, M
- Units
- DEVA , MACA
- Keywords
- Absence (Biodiversity), Animal Studies, Bats, Behavior, Caves, Chiroptera, Chiroptera (Bats), Conservation, Echolocation, echolocation honks, flight speed, Gates, IAR, Mammalia (Mammals), Mammoth Cave National Park, Mines, Presence (Biodiversity), swarming, Taxa Links To Datasets, Taxa Links To References, Vespertilionidae (Vespertillionid Bats)