08-05-14 Bat Field Note

08-05-14 Bat Field Note

August 5, 2014

Debbie Leick's Field Note shows bat mist netting, nightime thermal imaging, and a nighthawk.

Bat Field Note Bat Mist Netting, Thermal Imagery, Common Nighthawk 8/5/14 Debbie Leick

For three nights we worked with Lewis Young, a volunteer with Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks, to capture bats. Each evening we set up mist nets at the locations shown below.

We caught sixteen adult females of four species. These included big brown, long-eared myotis, long-legged myotis and silver-haired bats at different reproductive stages. Of the three sites, Davis Creek yielded the highest number with twelve females. We do not know the reason for the absence of males.

The Pump Slough site yielded four bats of two species. The floodplain’s abundant water sources disperse bats over a larger area, which may explain why we caught fewer bats here than at Davis Creek.

A long-legged myotis’s fur extends outward from the body onto the wing membrane.

A female big brown bat, below, showed the telltale sign of lactation.

Mites burrowed into some of the bats’ ears; removal required the use of forceps.

The distinct ears and frosted appearance identify this as a silver-haired bat.

We did not capture any bats at Whaley Draw, but a Common Nighthawk flew into one of the nets. When it opened its mouth, it revealed a mouthful of insects.