U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Wildlife Services

Historic document – Content may not reflect current scientific research, policies or practices.

RP-72

BATS AND BAT BANDI i

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE BUREAU OF SPORT FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife

BATS AND BAT BANDING

By Anhur M. Greenhall and John L. Paradiso

Bird and MammJII Laborotories Dfrision of Wildlife Research

Bureau of Spon Fisheries and Wildlife Resource Publication 72

Washington, D.C. • July 1968

For sale by the Superlntendont of Documents, U.S. Oovornment Printing Offico Wasbl111ton, D.C. 20Wl ·Price 60 cents PREFACE

Unique among mammals because they can fly, bats have excited the interest of man from ancient times. Secretive and nocturnal, they are surrounded by mystery, and it is not surprising that they are the sub­ ject of a rich folklore and p f myths and old wives' tales. Comprising an amazing number of species, almost worldwide in distribution, and displaying a wide range of habits, they are of great biological interest. Some are an economic liability to man--damaging crops, injuring livestock, and being a nuisance in houses. Many, though, are valuable as destroyers of noxious insects, and the guano produced by some species ls valuable as fertilizer. With the discovery in recent years of the role of bats as carriers of disease, there has been a renewed interest in research on them, financed in part by Federal and State public health agencies. A most productive method of studying bats in the wild has been by banding them for later recognition--the same technique as employed for birds, but with modifications. Since 1932, bat banding in North America has been coordinated by the U. s. Bureau of Biological Survey and its successor the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife in the Department of the Interior. This activity of the Bureau is centered at the Bird and Mammal Laboratories in the U. S. National Museum, Washington, D. c., where bands are issued and permanent records maintained. Since the pro­ gram began, nearly a million and a half numbered metal bands have been affixed to bats of various species. This work ls done by cooperating scientists, their students, and colleagues. These banding studies have disclosed many facts, such as the distances bats may travel, their seasonal migrations, hibernating habits, homing abilities, longevity, mortality rates, and reproductive behavior. There is still much to be learned. The success of the banding program depends on two things: First, if the resulting data are to be useful, banding procedures must be standardized so far as possible; second, interest of the general public must be stimu­ lated, since it ls this group that can provide a great number of band returns that would otherwise go unreported. This publication was prepared to do these two things, and we sollcitthe cooperation of all concerned in promot­ ing the program to learn more about this interesting group of mammals.

ii CONTENTS

Page

Preface ••• ii Introduction. • 1 History of bat banding. 1 In the United States • 1 In other countries 4 Locating bat roosts. 6 By sight•• ...... 6 By odor. 6 By sound. 6 Daytime roosts •• 6 Possible roosting sites. 8 Collecting methods •• 8 Collecting by hand •• 8 Forceps ••• 8 Hand nets••• 10 Tennis rackets 11 Brush • •••• • 11 Fishing rods. 11 Fowling nets•• 11 Burrs ...... 11 Large nets ••• 12 Traps for cave bats. 12 Traps and nets for house bats • 13 Chemicals ••••• • ••• • • 15 Miscellaneous techniques • 15 Capturing bats with mist nets 15 Equipment. 15 Rigging•••• 16 Operation •• 18 Maintenance ••••• 18 Net sites••• 19 Holding cages 20 Hitchcock cage • 20 Myers cage • • • 20 Mumford cage. 20 Bell cage •••• 20 Davis cage ••• 20 Hamilton-Smith cage • 21 Banding techniques ••• . .. 21 Preparation of bands 21 Preparation of bats • 21 Closing bands ••• 22 Removing bands ...... 22 General techniques 22

ill Page

Possible injuries to bats. 23 Health hazards. 23 Rabies, •••• 24 Histoplasmosis .• 24 Securing data•.•• 24 Population size • 25 Age• •••• • ••••• 25 Sex and breeding data. 25 Recording data. 25 Band number 25 Species 26 Date • • 26 Locality. 26 Sex ••• 26 Bander 26 Other information. 26 Supplementary information for handers 26 Recoveries • ••••••••••• 26 Preservation of specimens 29 Study skin and skull • •••• 29 Fluid-preserved specimen 29 Cooperation of the public • 29 Selected bibliography •••• • •• 31 Appendix A--Checklist of North American bats • 34 Emballonuridae • 34 Noctilionidae • , ...... 35 Phyllostomidae • • •••• 35 Desmodidae. 39 Natalidae • • 40 Furipteridae • 40 Thyropteridae 40 Ves pertilionidae. , • 40 Molossidae • • • • 43 Appendix B--Glossary of terms 45 Appendix C--Special equipment•• 47

iv BA TS AND BAT BANDING

Bats are a part of our living environment, use in bat studies. It maintains the records and they have a significant effect on man's and correspondence for the program. Through comfort and economic welfare. Some of their its Bat-Banding Office at the U. S. National activities are beneficial; others are det­ Museum it acts as a central clearing agency rimental. for all handers. On the beneficial side, individual bats con­ With the increased interest in bats and the sume enormous numbers of insects. Con­ banding program in recent years, the Bureau's sidering the thousands and sometimes millions staff considered it desirable to produce this of insectivorous bats that concentrate in caves manual to insure uniformity in banding proce­ in North America, it seems likely that they dures and record keeping. The manual is help limit insect abundance. Certain bats intended for both the experienced bander and in tropical America appear to be useful in the novice. pollinating plants and in disseminating seeds. It should be pointed out that bat banding On the negative side, some species of bats is costly in time and money, and we urge are implicated in the spread of diseases like all persons who find banded bats not to rabies and histoplasmosis. Since 1953, when destroy them indiscriminately. The band num­ the first rabid bat was reported in the United bers should be noted and reported to the Bat­ States, rabid bats have been found in nearly Banding Office, Bird and Mammal Labora­ every State. In parts of tropical America the tories, U. s. National Museum, Washington, vampire bat (Oesmodus rotundus) may deci­ D. c. 20560, but the bat should be released mate livestock through its blood-feeding habits. unharmed for continued study. Also in tropical America certain species of The American Society of Mammalogists fruit bats consume or destroy large quan­ has endorsed bat-banding by a resolution at tities of fruit. In addition, bats are often nui­ its annual meeting in 1964. sances when they roost in houses and other buildings, sometimes by the thousands, soiling walls and floors with their droppings. In fact, HISTORY OF BAT BANDING in many areas they may pose a severe public health and agricultural problem. Yet, despite In the United the fact that ~ats are so important to us, it is States surprising how little is known of the habits, life Bat banding was a natural outgrowth of history, and ecology of most species. bird banding. On 24 June 1916, Arthur A. Allen, Although there have been persons in­ ornithologist at Cornell University, at~ached terested in studying bats by tagging methods four numbered aluminum bands of the American since early in this century, it is only within Bird Banding Association to the legs of four the past 10 to 15 years that bat banding in female pipistrelles roosting on the porch of North America has reached sizable pro­ a home in Ithaca, N. Y. This apparently was portions. The bat-banding program has already the first time bats were banded in North yielded valuable information; much more will America. Three yea rs later, Allen (19 21) found be forthcoming. three of the four bats he had banded in 1916 Since the mid-l 930's the Bureau of Sport again roosting on the same porch. Commenting Fisheries and Wildlife and its predecessor on this, he said: "This curious incident of agencies have been involved in this program. the same three . •. bats, staying together or The Bureau has supplied free to qualified returning to each other after three years had handers more than 1 1 / 2 million bands for elapsed, reminded me of how little we know 2 HISTORY OF BAT BANDING

of their habits. " In addition, he noted: "The sion within the Bureau as to the feasibillty of valuable results that are now being obtained becoming involved in bat banding. After all by banding birds could no doubt be duplicated pros and cons were thoroughly discussed, it with bats if only enough persons would coop­ was agreed that so little was known of the life erate in the project of banding." history, migration, longevity, and economic A. B. Howell banded four bats in California status of bats that it would be advisable to in 1922, and Luther Little banded 37 there cooperate as fully as possible in bat-banding in 1923. In 1929, Harold Wood used two bird efforts. It was felt that since the Bureau was bands on bats in Pennsylvania and looked upon as the authority on North American H. B. Sherman banded 76 Florida bats. It mammal life cooperation in bat studies was was not until 1932, however, that Donald R. a legitimate project for the Bureau. Griffin in New England and Earl L. Pooie and The bat-banding program increased in Charles E. Mohr in Pennsylvania began band­ numbers of handers and bats banded, and the ing activities that were to become the first program expanded into other States. In Septem­ sustained endeavors in bat banding in America. ber 1936 Mary J. Guthrie banded over 700 Altogether, Mohr was to band over 700 bats in bats in Missouri caves; in April 1937 W. A. his Pennsylvania studies, and Griffin over Welter banded 2,000 bats in eastern Kentucky; 13,000 in Massachusetts. and in 1938 H. I. Shreve began banding in Also in 1932, the use of Biological Survey West Virginia. In 1939, George N. Rysgaard bird bands was officially sanctioned for bats. was banding in Minnesota, Harold Trapido in W. B. Bell of the U. S. Bureau of Biological New Jersey and Pennsylvania, and A. J. Survey (now the Bureau of Sport Fisheries Nicholson in Texas. Also in 1939, Harold B. and Wildlife) wrote to Griffin on 25 August 1932 Hitchcock began banding operations in New as follows: "We have been advised by the England which have continued almost without National Band and Tag Company, which com­ interrruption to the present day. pany furnished us with bands during the fiscal Banding activities were greatly curtailed year 1932, that they have on hand a supply during World War II, then accelerated to of bands of various sizes, and you could prob­ major importance early in the 1950's. In ably arrange to purchase the necessary supply 1953 the first rabid bat was reported in the of bands at a very moderate cost. While the United States; since then bat rabies has been numbers on these bands will probably duplicate reported from nearly every State in the Union. numbers used in our bird-banding operations, Along with awareness of the public health the fact that they are placed on bats rather importance of bats, there arose the need for than on birds would probably enable returns increased knowledge of their biology. Band­ to be recorded without difficulty." ing was a proved method of studying the move­ Confusion did arise, however, as a result ments, migrations, longevity, mortality, and of the duplication of numbers of bands used life history of bats, and so the numbers of bands on bats and on birds, and on 21 January issued yearly increased enormously. Before 1937 F_. C. Lincoln, in charge of the Bureau's 1953, bands were issued at the rate of 5 and Section on Distribution and Migration of Birds, 10 thousand annually. After 1953, the numbers wrote to Griffin the following: "We are now increased spectacularly, until in 1962 over prepared to issue bands from our regular a quarter of a million were issued. Since [bird) supply for such work [bat banding), and then, the number has fluctuated between 100,000 when you are ready for additional supplies we and 200,000 annually. will be pleased to issue you a reasonable Until 1939, bats were generally banded on number." the hind foot. In 1939 Trapido (Trapido and The U. S. Bureau of Biological Survey was Crowe, 1946) began banding on the forearm, by this move firmly com m 1 t t e d to the and wing banding has been almost universally bat-banding program in North America. The employed since, although there have been some step was not taken without considerable discus- trials with ear tagging. Sanders are now gen- IN THE UNITED STA TES 3 erally agreed on the best position for bands not supply bands to those who may have only on bats, but are not agreed on the best style a passing interest or curiosity about bats. Such and size of bands. Most bats have been banded persons are usually discouraged from attempt­ with standard bird bands, but frequently the ing to conduct banding programs of their own sharp edges of this type irritate the wing and are advised to operate through some estab­ membrane and may result in injury or death. lished bander. The number of active handers has Attempts to design a more suitable band have never been high (today it is probably less resulted in such types as round-end bands, than 50 throughout the country). This emphasis Up-end bands, and ear tags. Lip-end bands are on quality rather than quantity has maintained the style being provided by the Bat-Banding high standards among cooperators. Aprospec­ Office today (fig. 1 ). Opinions of the handers tive bander must demonstrate that he can iden­ on size also have been conflicting. Some tify bats to species in the field and has the insist that a small band should be used on a know-how to safely handle the animals, and small bat, and a large band on a big one. Others that his project is wonhwhile and holds good maintain that the moderately large No. 2 prospects for inc re a s 1 n g knowledge of bat band is suitable for almost all North American biology. bats, from the small pipistrelles to the big A number of important papers have ap­ brown bat. It has the advantages of being peared in recent years that are based entirely easily noticed and having mailing instructions or in pan on studies of banded bats. Among on the exposed surface, a feature lacking in them may be 11 s t e d those by Mohr smaller sizes. The No. 2 band comprises about (1942a, 1942b), Griffin (1945), J. S. Hall 90 percent of the bands being issued today. (1962), R. Davis et al. (1962), W. H. Davis Although no permit is required to band bats, and Hitchcock (1965), and Hitchcock (1965). the Bat Banding Office issues bands only to Through the banding program we have scientists who are engaged in bat research learned that some bats may live to ages of 20 that requires the use of banded animals. It does years and more, that some species migrate up

WRITE F8W SERV. 652-31801 WASH. D.C. USA

(MUCH ENLARGED)

: NOTIFY NAT.MUS.F.W. S~ BAT 526000 1 1 I WASH. o.c. 20560 I

Figure 1.--Types of American bands used on birds (above) and on bats (below). 4 HISTORY OF BAT BANDING to distances of 1,000 miles (fig. 2), and that The following is a brief summary of the some have a strong homing instinct over dis­ history of bat banding in some European tances of as much as 100 miles. Much has been countries, adapted from Aellen (1952), Balliot learned and more will be learned as greater (1964), Bels (1952), Egsbaek and Jensen (1963), numbers of bats of different species are banded. Eisentraut (1960), Hanak et al. (1962), and Topal (1956>. Austria.--Bat banding was begun in the In other countries winter of 1941-42 by F. Waldner. No central office; uses German band address. Belgium.--L. Bels assisted in organizing A 1th o ugh bat banding originated in the banding activities in 1939. Work has been United States, Europeans also recognized its carried on by E. Nerincx, F. Anciaux, and value as a tool in learning more about their J. Verschuren. Central office: Institut Royal native bat species. In fact, it was in Germany des Sciences Naturelles de Belgique, 31 Rue that Eisentraut in 1932 first employed the meth­ Vautier, Bruxelles 4; Band legend: "Musee od of wing banding that is in general use Royal d'Hlstoire Naturelle des Bruxelles." throughout the world today. Bats have been Bulgaria.--Bat banding was begun in 1940. banded in virtually every European country. No central office. Band legend: "Zoo Sophia," Australia also has been the scene of widespread and "Zoo Sophia Bulgaria." banding in recent years. Australian bat-banding Czechoslovakia. --This country has been is coordinated by the Australian Bat-banding the scene of intensive bat-banding activity, Scheme, Division of Wildlife Research, particularly after 1957. From its beginning C. S. I. R. O. , Canberra, which issues a periodical in 194 7 until 1957 bat banding was organized by newsletter . the Czech o s 1 ova k Ornithological Society.

Myotis grisescens

•••• Tadarida. b1'a8iliensis Figure 2.--Records of movements of banded bats. IN OTHER COUNTRIES 5

Toward the end of 1956 an independent bat­ German handers, has contributed substantially banding station was founded, which was attached to knowledge of European bats. Central office: to the Mammalogical Section of the Board of Zoologisches Forschungsinstitut und Museum Natural History of the Czechoslovak National Alexander Koenig, Bonn. Band legend: "Mu­ Museum. For many years standard bird bands seum Koenig Bonn" and "Museum Bonn." A were used on bats, but since the establishment German language newsletter, "Myotis," is of a bat-banding station special bat bands with published annually. faceted edges have been used. As of 1960, Hungary.--G. Topal conducted an exten­ nearly 16,000 bats of 19 species had been banded sive banding program here from December 1951 in Czechoslovakia, and important findings about to September 1955. Altogether he banded nearly bat biology were forthcoming. Central office: 17,000 bats in the Carpathian Basin. Central Krouzkovaci stanlce Mammaliologicke Sekce office: Magyar Nemzeti Muzeum Termeszet Prirodovedeckeho sboru Narodniho Musea v tudomanyi Muzeum, Budapest, VIII, Baross Praze, Narodni museum, Vaclavske namesti Utca 13. Band legend: "Budapest Museum." 1900, Praha II, CSR. Band legend: "N. Museum Netherlands.--L. Bels began banding in Praha-CSR." this country in 1936, as a collaborator of Denmark.--In 1944, L. Hansen began regu­ M. Eisentraut. Most of his work was done in lar banding of bats, and up to 1960be bad banded the caves of South Limburg, and during 15 about 500 bats of seven species. Between 1955 years he banded over 17,000 bats of 14 species. and 1961, W. Egsbaek and B. Jensen actively Central office: Zoologisch Laboratorium der studied Danish bats by banding over 3,800 indi­ Rijks-Universiteit, Janskerkhof 3, Utrecht. viduals of several species. Central office: Zo­ Band legend: "Zool. Mus., Utrecht, Holland." ological Museum of Copenhagen. Band legend: Sweden.--0. Ryberg started banding in "Zool. Museum, Denmark." Sweden in 1932. He tried several methods, England.--J. H. D. Hooper, W. M. Hooper, including color marking of the ears, and and T. R. Shaw staned banding in England in eventually switched over to wing 1948, first using homemade nickel leg rings, bands of the type used by Eisentraut. then changing to aluminum wing bands of the Switzerland.--Since 1943, standard type used for birds. In recent years, H. Mislin and V. Aellen have banded bats with British handers have been using lipped bands bird bands that are applied to the wing in the same manner of Monel metal or magnesium alloy. British as used by Eisentraut. Central office: ' handers are a small but intensely interested Museum d'Histoire Naturelle, Geneve. Band legend: and active group. Central office: Mammal "Museum Geneve." Society of the British Isles. Band legend: "Lond. Zoo." U.S.S.R.--Bats have been banded in the France.--In 1936, M. A. Hugues banded U.S.S.R. since 1937. The program is organized the first bat in France. In 1937, N. Casteret by the u.s.s. R. Academy of Science, Com­ was actively banding. After the war, banding mission for Nature Study, in Moscow. Central reached a peak in 1957 when 12,000 bats were office: USSR Academy of Science, Commission banded in one year; by 1960, nearly 90,000had for Nature Study, Lenin-Avenue 33, Moscow been banded. Cent r a 1 office: Centre de B-71. Band legend: "Moskwa." Recherches sur les Migrations des Mammi­ In addition to the above, banding programs feres et des Oiseaux, Museum National have been conducted in Spain, Italy, Yugoslavia, d'Histoire Naturelle, 55 Rue de Buffon, Paris. Poland, and elsewhere. Band legend: "Museum Paris." European handers have generally banded Germany.--Primarily through the efforts relatively small numbers of bats with great of M. Eisentraut, Germany has been a pioneer care, but the list of publications by European in the banding program. As already noted, bat handers is impressive. Through their Eisentraut was the first to use the so-called efforts more is known about the life history, wing bands which are applied to the forearm of migrations, movements, and habits of European the bat. His work, and that of numerous other bats than those of any other area. 333- 491 0 - 69 - 2 6 LOCATING BAT ROOSTS

LOCATING BAT ROOSTS fingers, they are easily crushed and reveal shiny bits of insect chitin. In contrast, the There is no substitute forfieldexperience droppings of rodents are unsegmented, harder, in learning to locate bat roosts. For the general and more fibrous. There may be confusion also location of bat retreats, reference should be with the droppings of birds, lizards, and toads, made to zoological, geological, and spelio­ but bat droppings never contain the white logical publications. Zoological references, calcareous material characteristic of these especially those dealing with fauna! areas and other species. The entrance to tree roosts of taxonomic studies, will frequently mention the fish-eating bats (Noctilio leporinus) may exact location where the animals described occasionally be plastered with dried fish were studied or collected. Cave roosts in unfa­ sea les, producing a silvery glitter extend­ miliar areas may be located by referring to ing down the trunk for several feet. Perma­ topographical maps or through local inquiry. nent roosts of Des modus may be recognized by After considerable field experience the inves­ the presence of tarlike droppings, which some­ tigator will learn to locate roosts by various times form pools. Roosts of Phyllostomus, signs. Vampyrum, and other predatory bats are usually littered with bones, hair, and feathers By sight at the base. The roosts of fruit bats can usually be identified by the accumulation of Bats may be seen leaving or entering caves, nuts, seeds, fruit skins, and pulp ejected as buildings, or other shelters. Dusk and dawn pellets. are excellent times to locate bats. When looking for them along streams, one must be able not By odor only to see the sky, but also to check for flights that usually occur in the shaded areas under Many bats have scent glands which emit a overhanging branches. It is worthwhile to strong odor, easily detected by most people. search bridges for night roosts. There are Some odors are characteristic of particular sometimes good flights of feeding bats at dawn, species. The roosts of Noctillo are often per­ and one may find roosts by seeing the bats re­ vaded by a powerful fish scent, while those of turn to their daytime roosts. Desmodus usually have a strong odor of The presence of bats may often be detected ammonia. by stains from urine, feces, and body secre­ tions, usually near entrances to their roosts. By sound Darkened spots near the eaves of wooden buildings (such as barns) may indicate infes­ Besides the supersonic sounds (which hu­ tations of house bats. The secretions of such mans cannot detect) bats produce sounds that free-tailed bats as Tadarida and Molossus are audible to human ears. The cries of some leave distinct dark stains where they enter species are so characteristic that it ls possible roofs and attics, usually under roofing material to identify them even though they are hidden in or clay tiles, or through louvers. the recesses of their roosts. Phyllostomus Bats are easily detected inside buildings hastatus is the most vocal of neotropical bats, by the feces, urine, and chewed-up insects, both in flight and when resting. Some species which may stain the floor and ceiling of the caught in mist nets will attract others of their room below. kind by their vocalizations. Bat roosts may usually be identified by the presence of scats or droppings on the Daytime roosts ground under roost entrances. Scats may be confused with those of mice and rats, particu­ Bats rest during the day in many secluded larly if found in buildings. Bat droppings tend situations ranging from total darkness to broad to be segmented; when rubbed between the daylight. These may be in or about natural DAYTIME ROOSTS 7

plant retreats, such as hollow trees and foliage, describes in great detail the variety of situ­ or in caves. Many species have desened their ations in which bats are found in buildings. The normal roosts to utilize manmade shelters critical factor seems to be the presence of such as buildings, mines, and bridges, while suitable cracks or access holes in walls or some tropical bats inhabit abandoned shelters ceilings. The usefulness of bats as insect of insects, birds, or burrowing animals. feeders and the value of their guano led to sev­ Probably most bats live in caves. In the eral attempts to encourage colonial species to temperate regions of the United States cenain occupy anificial bat towers built from Texas to species hibernate in caves; in tropical regions, Florida where malaria mosquitoes were pre­ including Mexico and the West Indies, others valent (fig. 3). Bats roosted in only one of eight are permanent cave dwellers. Caves range in structures built (Campbell, 1925; Silver, 1935), size from small, each housing a single bat In Europe, bats are often found in bird individual. to large, such as the famous bat boxes as well as in boxes constructed specially caves of Carlsbad (New Mexico), Chilibrillo for them. Less common are the bats that inhabit (Panama), and Tamana (Trinidad), each with abandoned animal-made shelters. Myotis populations numbering into the millions. argentatus has been taken only from insect Some temperate-zone bats and a great holes made in a low dead tree trunk, while many tropical bats select retreats in and about Tonatia minuta has been found only in hollow, trees and foliage. Some are quite specific in abandoned tree-termite nests previously used their roosting habits and may be consistently by parakeets. found hanging in the shelter of palm fronds and Still to be determined for most species of broad banana leaves. The sucker-foot bats bats are their roosting places and the ecological may usually be found clinging by suction disks factors (such as temperature, humidity, space, to the inside of the trumpet-shaped tubes of and light) that govern roost site selection. unfurling leaves of banana or wild plantain. Bats generally do not modify theirnatural surroundings to make a better roost; notable exceptions are the tent-making bat, Uroderma bilobatum, and some small Anibeus which bite and cut palm leaves so that the fronds fold down to form dark tentlike roosts. Some species have desened their native roosts, wholly or in pan, and taken up associ­ ation with man. "House" bats infesting roof spaces have presented a serious economic and public health problem throughout the world. An excellent study of the Mexican free-tailed bat, Tadarida brasiliensis, in Texas (R. Davis et al., 1962) has indicated "that throughout South Texas every group of a dozen or more buildings is likely to have at least one guano bat roost used for some period during the year." An estimate is given of 15 roosts per 5,000 human population, with some roosts having over 100 bats. In Trinidad, Greenhall and Stell ( 1960) cite an actual count of 355 Molossus ater in a single house. In Scandinavia, Ryberg (1947) states, "it is easier to find, study, and catch I .....~ them [bats] in buildings than in entirely or ~ I panly undisturbed natural surroundings." He Figure 3.--Artificial bat roost. 8 COLLECTING METHODS

A list of possible bat roosts in the Old culverts and cisterns, bridges, and cellars World is given by Verschuren (1957). We have may all harbor bats. Some species of Tonatla tried to adapt this to conditions in the Western favor the abandoned nests of tree-dwelling Hemisphere, and illustrate in figures 4-7 sit­ termites or the burrows of mammals. uations where one or more species of the genera listed may typically occur. It should be kept in mind that bats may inhabit a wide vari­ COLLECTING METHODS ety of places throughout their range and are not restricted to these habitats. Methods of capturing live bats range from Rocky surroundings (fig. 4) afford shelter the simple collecting of single bats by hand to on both the exterior and the interior of caves the use of complicated traps that capture and crevices. Micronycteris may occur beneath thousands at one time. projecting boulders (a); Balantiopteryx against Most bats banded have been colonial types rock faces (b); Pipistrellus and Perop~9 ryx that because of their habits may be collected within small cavities (c); fresh-water caves in large numbers from caves and buildings. may harbor species of Myotis, Mormoops, Depending upon specific conditions, these bats Chilonycteris, or Phyllostomus (d); while can be collected by hand, by nets or traps within Tadarida, Pipistrellus, Noctilio, or Pizonyx their retreats, or as they enter or leave may roost in caves, cracks, or fissures (e). their roosts. One of the most ingenious bat­ Trees and other vegetation (fig. 5) may collecting devices is a trap devised by provide shelter for various bats. On the Constantine ( 1958) for use at the mouth of caves, exterior, Rhynchonycterls and Saccopteryx This has been modified by many investigators may cling to the bark (a); Anlbeus may hang to suit special conditions. Collecting bats within freely from the branches (b); Choeronycterls buildings is often difficult and is complicated may hang among exposed roots (c); and Centuria when the bats occupy inaccessible spaces, and Lasiurus under the foliage (d). Cavities and necessitating the invention of various traps hollow trunks may contain Micronycteris or that are placed at the openings through which Carollia (e); holes in the smaller branches the bats emerge. The use of mist nets (a bird­ may shelte r Molossops (f); Myotis and Micro­ collecting technique) s et along bat flyways has nycteris may rest in hollow logs and stumps (g); made practical the banding of noncolonial bats. and Lasionycteris may cling beneath loose bark (h). Palm fronds and other tropical foliage Collecting by hand (fig. 6) may shelter Diclidurus and Cytterops along the margins (a) orUroderma under fronds The hand-collecting method may be used cut by the bat (b). Anibeus may also hang freely in caves where bats roost low enough to be under the fronds (c). Thyroptera rests in a tube reached. We urge that gloves be used whenever formed by the young unfurled leaves of banana bats are taken by hand. or plantain (d). Promops prefers hanging beneath dry palm fronds (e). Man-made structures provide many sites Forceps to which bats have adapted. Occupied or aban­ doned buildings (fig. 7) may shelter Carollia Long forceps are useful for extracting or Glossophaga under the roofs or hanging from bats from holes and crevices. There are many rafters; Tadarida or Eptesicus under the eaves; available, but those with scissonype handles Molossus under corrugated iron roofing; and overall length of at least 10 inches are Myotis and others in towers, chimneys, and generally best. They may be obtained from attics, and beneath shingles or clapboards, hardware stores (fireplace equipment) and and behind blinds. Mines and tunnels, sewers, from medical and biological supply houses. ROOSTING SITES 9

a---

Figure 4.--Possible roosting sites of bats in rocky surroundings. See text for details.

Figure 5.--Possible roosting sites in trees and other vegetation. See text for details.

Figure 6.--Possible roosting sites in Figure ].--Possible roosting sites in palm fronds and other tropical a man-made structure. foliage . See text for details. 10 COLLECTING METHODS

An excellent device for picking bats out been described by Agacino (1938a, 1938b). of crevices and drill holes in mines consists In Australia, Hamilton-Smith (1964) states, "in of a flexible cable-housing about 15 inches most caves it will be found desirable to have long with four spring-operated grasping hooks some means of altering the angle of the net at the end (fig. 8-a). When the plunger is de­ relative to the handle. The author accomplished pressed, the hooks flare out from the tip of this by inserting an elbow joint of the type used the cable-housing; when the plunger is re­ by beach umbrellas as a link between net leased, the hooks close together. An object in and handle (fig. 8-b). The angle of the net their grasp is held firmly until released by can then be altered by loosening a wing-nut, pushing the plunger. A homemade version of setting as desired, and fixing in the most this, made of wire, has been described by convenient condition. The net may also be Walley (1963). A similar device for picking readily removed from the handle and held a single bat out of a cluster can be made of in the hand for use in narrow tunnels." a 6-foot length of aluminum tubing. A heavy Even greater flexibility was achieved by stiff wire (No. 12) with a loop at one end suspending their net in a gimbal-like frame goes through the tube; at the end of this are (fig. 8-c). The net was sleevellke in shape, soldered two short pieces of baling wire or with strings permitting tying it off at different strong tension wire bent to form four grasp­ points. In use, the bottom of the sleeve is tied ing tongs. When the loop is pulled at the shut; the lower end of the net is inserted into handle end, the grasping tongs are drawn part the holding cage, the lower string is released, way into the tube, causing them to close. and the bats are shaken into the cage. Lining

Hand nets Capturing bats in hoop nets like the familiar insect nets and dipnets is practical in most situations. These may be hand-made or purchased through biological supply houses. Fish-landing nets of 2-foot diameter or more and mesh openings not greaterthan 1/ 4 inch are reported to be better than insect nets. There are many variations of these. Instructions for making hand nets are outlined by Knudsen (1966). An emergency net for bats may be made from a wire coathanger bent into a small hoop with handle and faced with a piece of mosquito netting or cheesecloth. More sophis­ ticated device.3 consist of long-handled nets with openings that can be shut by means of cords. W. H. Davis (196la) devised a net for use at cave entrances, attics, and buildings. It consists of a 1/4-inch steel rod, 10 feet long, bent to form a hoop 3 feet across, with a short handle. The net is made from 3 yards of curtain material. Another net useful for catching bats that hang from the roofs of caves is so designed Figure 8.--Miscellaneous collecting that the net opening may be closed. This has equipment. See text for details. COLLECTING METHODS 11

the upper section of the net with plastic sheet­ sionally been collected by knocking them down ing will prevent the bats from gaining a foothold in this fashion. Bamboo poles about 15 feet on the net and will reduce escapes. long have been used similarly. A variation of Extension handles are essential on these this is to add a length of fishing line and an devices. Telescoping metal poles or camera artificial fly, and swing the whole thing back tripod legs may be used. Lengths offiber-glass and fonh through the air. Bats will chase flies, or bamboo poles may be fitted "together by but may become hooked through the wings ferrules, but they may tend to become clogged rather than in their mouths. with din. This can be avoided by the use of electrical conduit of appropriate size instead of a threaded ferrule. Fowling nets A device for collecting high-roosting hi­ bernating bats (W. H. Davis, 1960) consists of These English bird nets, known in the a pole and metal ring. A piece of wire or a wire United States as clap nets, may be operated by coathanger bent into a ring about 4 inches in one or more persons. One simple device con­ diameter is attached firmly to the end of a pole sists of a net about 4 by 5 feet stretched between with the ring extending beyond the end of the two bamboo poles about 10 feet long (fig. 8-d). pole. The ring is brought beneath the bat and The lower pans ofthepolesmaybesteam-bent against its feet as it clings to the cave wall for a better shape and the two poles then tied or celling. The bat is either dropped or lifted together to form a hinge. The net is held above down. A plastic bag may be added to the end the collector; as soon as a bat strikes it, the of the pole for holding bats. two poles are brought together, thus securely closing the net. An unusual technique for catching pipis­ Tennis rackets trelles and nocrules with a mist net is described by Cranbrook and Barrett (1965). Two men Tennis rackets have proved useful for hold long poles horizontally with a mist net knocking down bats that have flown into houses taut between them, while a third man lobs a at night. Oncoming bats can dexterously avoid pebble into the net. As the bat swoops down, tennis rackets and other objects, but they can be the net is raised to the venical position, batted down more easily as they fly away catching the bat as it comes out of its dive. This from the collector. If care is used, the bat need method of bringing bats down demands some not be injured by this method. accuracy.

Brush Burrs Plying bats may be collected by knocking According to the English naturalist Robert them down with a handful of brush or switches Kerr, small boys caught bats by throwing (Jackson, 1926). Van Gelder (1959) described clusters of burrs in the air. Bats became a new species of bat collected this way: "The entangled in these and dropped to the ground. bats were obtained by knocking them down with W. H. Davis (196la) repons a burdock trap small branches as they came over the water, for house bats made by forming a rectangular probably to drink." wire frame attached to the end of a pole. With a needle, enough burrs were strung on thread to form a complete sheet over the frame and Fishing rods cover all the wire. They were then glued into place. Davis states, "It is amazing how effec­ Bats seem to be attracted by the rapidly tive a burr ls in entangling a bat. The wing mem­ vibrating tips of fishing rods, and have occa- brane need only touch it. Indeed, I have found 12 COLLECTING METHODS that I can catch bats with a single burr dangled An ingenious automatic trap was devised on the end of a light thread and held over by Constantine (1958) to capture, unharmed, water where.bats are feeding." large numbers of Tadarida at the Carlsbad Cav­ erns. This trap (fig. 9) consisted of a rectangu­ Large nets lar aluminum frame, 10 by 20 feet, supponing very fine venically arranged st e e 1 wires The use of large nets, requiring several spaced 1 inch apan and kept taut. Bats stopped people to operate, is one of the surest methods in flight slid down the wires through a funnel for catching bats. The nets may be spread on into an escapeproof cage. A 17-inch flap of frames, like the hoop nets previously de­ flexible plastic was attached at the edges of the scribed, wrapped around entrances and exits open top of the cage and allowed to hang inside, to roosts, or set in known flyways. providing a smooth surface that prevented the Simple or gill seine nets with half-inch escape of captured bats, since the bats could openings, such as are used by fishermeJ'I, have neither fly out of the opening nor crawl over the been successfully used to trap vampire bats smooth plastic. Over 45,000 free-tailed bats at entrances to hollow trees. Net sizes varied were captured by this trap in 1956. from 15 to 30 feet long and from 6 to 10 feet wide, with mesh from 1/2 to 1 inch. Collectors simply cover the openings in the tree by wrapping the seine around the tree or nailing the nets over the openings. It is necessary to plug other holes that may provide secondary escape routes. These nets have also been set across cave openings and other retreats. Jackson (1926) found a net size of 10 square feet satisfactory. Seines and mist nets may be stretched across tunnel or mine openings by bracing them with makeshift frames of wooden poles. Van Tyne ( 1933) successfully caught bats in a linen trammel net of the type used in southern Europe to catch birds. He stretched the net across forest undergrowth. It consisted of two long large-meshed nets of dark twine, each about 40 by 6 feet in size, with a third central net of finer twine, 3/4-inch mesh, stretched loosely between the two outer nets. A bat strik­ ing one of the outer nets went partly through the larger meshes and became pocketed in the smaller and looser meshes of the inner net.

Traps for cave bats

Traps are more practical than nets for collecting bats from caves and buildings. They are not easily damaged, do not need constant attention, and the bats may be left in them for some time, to be removed at leisure. Figure 9.--Constantine trap. TRAPS AND NETS 13

Constantine also made smaller traps of 0 72• ..1 this design, about 6 by 6 feet. These were used I• in small cave entrances or suspended from tree limbs with a light attached to one side to attract flying insects. One such trap set at a cave en­ T ·r trance caught over 1,400 bats in a single .5+' evening. 72' The Constantine trap has undergone nu­ merous modifications. W. H. Davis (1963b) describes one using 20-pound test nylon fish l line. Hamilton-Smith (1966) describes a pon­ able -. T model (fig. 10-a) made of aluminum tubing 1~· 1e· with nylon lines, and a catching cage of fiber­ .t i glass mesh lined with plastic sheeting. j-12•-el Traps and nets for house bats

In collecting bats as they emerge from buildings, it is advisable first to plug all but the major holes and then to place the devices at these few exits. Griffin (1934) was the first to collect bats from inside buildings with a device he called a trap roost. It consisted of two wooden pockets which were hinged and attached in the attic to the underside of the roof ridge, where bats often hang. When the bats were disturbed, they retreated into the pockets of the trap instead of into the cracks between the boards of the building. To collect bats as they left buildings, Griffin (1940a) used "tunnel nets." These con­ Figure IO.--Modifications sisted of U-shaped wire suppons over of the which Constantine cheesecloth was stretched, forming a tunnel of trap. netting. The suppons were nailed to the en­ trance, and the net tunnel was led to within easy reach of the ground in the manner shown in figure 11-a. Plastic could be substituted for the cheesecloth. w. H. Davis (196la) made a trap of a "plastic sleeve fastened around an entrance with thumbtacks and adhesive tape and leading Into a suspended container." The trap worked well if the population was large enough to cause the bats to push each other out. Another type of trap used by Griffin ( l 940a) consisted of metal or celluloid cylinders placed at exit holes (fig. 11-b). The bats fell through the cylinders and landed in the smooth-sided Figure 11.--Traps for receptacles. house bats. See text for details. 333-491 0 - 69 - 3 14 COLLECTING METHODS

Constantine (1958) discovered that bats R. Davis et al. (1962) invented a hopper will fly into clear glass or transparent plastic trap for use around buildings which harbored sheets placed vertically at building roost exits Tadartda (fig. 11-c). The traps provided stor­ (fig. 10-b). Upon striking the obstruction, the age space for captive bats, so it was possible bats slide into a smooth-sided container below. to set traps in several towns and run them in In effect, this is the Constantine wire trap daylight hours as a trapline. described earlier, with transparent sheets of The hopper trap shown in figure 12 is made plastic or glass substituted for the wires or of black plastic or oilcloth fastened over a fish line. wire frame 32 inches high with each side 28

T

Figure 12.--Details of R. Davis's hopper trap. CAPTURING WITH MIST NETS 15

inches at the top and 9 inches at the bottom. gions. Fine wire or nylon lines stretched taut Below this is suspended a 16-inch deep mesh over water surfaces often trip bats in flight, holding bag, with a drawstring to close each tumbling them into the water where they may section at the bottom. A hook is attached at each be collected with relative ease. This technique top corner so that when necessary several traps as used in Texas was first described by Borell may be fastened together in a "nest" to increase ( 1937), who strung fine wires 4 to 5 feet apart the catching area. These traps may be stacked and no more than l 1/2 inches above the sur­ one inside another for storage and transfer. face of a water tank. In six evenings 286 bats When using this trap, the size of the exit were taken as they swam to the sides of the hole must first be reduced by gluing a slick tank. Care must be exercised to retrieve the plastic shield around it. An extra shield must bats before they drown or escape. Knudsen be provided so it will overlap the edge of the (l 966) modified this method by stretching wire trap, which ls set at the minimum possible or dark-colored string several inches above distance below the exit. the surface of slow-moving streams. Dalquest (1954) and Glass (1956) have Chemicals pointed out the value of Japanese mist nets for collecting bats. Dr. Handley, one of the W. H. Davis (196la) describes the use of technique's chief advocates, has kindly pro­ tear gas and insect sprays to force bats out of vided the following account from a longer inaccessible places. Greenhall and Stell ( 1960) publication he is preparing. found benzene hexachloride (BHC or lindane) an excellent house bat residual repellent. "This Capturing Bats With insecticide had the immediate effect of causing bats to fly outofthehouse. Also, this was more Mist Nets desirable than a killing agent as these bats are insectivorous and considered biologically use­ by Charles O. Handley, Jr. ful." Aerosol dog repellants may be used U.S. National Museum similarly. Mist nets have been used mostly to obtain series of bats for systematic studies. In addi­ Miscellaneous techniques tion, it should be possible through use of the Bats roosting in hollow trees may be driven mist net to learn much about habitat pref­ out by various devices. Firing a gun blindly into erences, distribution in relation to food sources a hollow may cause the bats to take flight. Dense and roost sites, home ranges and territories, smoke often dislodges resting bats; however, movements, and seasonal variation in all of some bats respond only to excessive heat when these factors. The great potential of the mist the fire bursts into flame. Obviously, this meth­ net as a tool for ecological and biological od must be used with caution. Bats can be routed studies has been very little tested or exploited. from hollow trees by vigorously thrusting into Equipment them long branches with all but terminal tufts of leaves removed. Most nets are made of a fine-gage nylon. Rosevear (1965) used smoke to force The netting is fitted loosely over a string frame bats from rock crevices, and also found flam­ which is considerably smaller than the net ing bunches of grass tied to the tips of bamboo itself. Strings also pass horizontally through poles useful. Sometimes the mere heating of the net, dividing it into two or four shelves. rocks by a surface fire served to drive out the Loops of heavy cord at the ends of each shelf bats. string provide a means of attaching the net to Bats customarily drink on emerging at supports (fig. 13). The most versatile nets for dusk and may be taken where they concentrate catching bats have four shelves, are 6 or 12 at water tanks or ponds, especially in arid re- m. wide and 7 m. high, and are made of 50 or 16 COLLECTING METHODS

70 denier black nylon thread in a 36-mm. mesh. Remove any sticks, limbs, or debris that Prices range from $1.50 to$5 or more, depend­ might entangle the net. Find a site where the ing upon the specifications. Several suppliers of net will be least conspicuous and, if possible, nets are listed in the appendix. erect it by daylight. Two persons can do the job Nets ordinarily are supponed by poles. far more easily than one. Almost any sapling 8 to 9 feet long will serve. If the ground is hard, the poles may be It should be reasonably straight and stiff, with secured by piles of rocks or by guying to nearby little taper, and a basal diameter of about 2 trees or other objects. inches. Hard, heavy woods are best. Sometimes After the first pole has been secured, step telescoping metal poles or sectional wooden off the approximate length of the net and place poles with metal ferrules are convenient. The the other suppon pole. Place the loops of one suppon poles may be driven directly into the end of the net in proper sequence over the first ground, or, if the ground is hard or rocky, steel pole, and open the upper shelf so that the top pipes, each 18 to 24 inches long with an inside string can be identified. Unfold the net, holding diameter of 2 1/ 2 inches and one end flattened it always taut and keeping a finger on the top to a wedge-shape, may be driven into the string so that the top loop at the other end substrate to serve as receptacles for the poles. can be identified. When the net has been A supply of cord is essential for guying completely unfolded, erect the second pole and nets, and rubber bands are useful for maintain­ slip the loops over it. ing the proper tension of the shelf strings and in mending them. Very little mending equipment Rigging is needed, but a pair of forceps, small dissect­ ing scissors, and some black nylon fishing line with a floodlight beam, leaves the hands of the of about the same gage as the shelf strings are netter free. A machete with a 15- to 18-inch essential. Some netters use heavy gloves for blade and with belt sheath is a very efficient handling bats, but a muslin collecting bag used tool for clearing net sites, preparing net poles, as a baffle, leaving the hands unencumbered, is and assisting in rigging nets. A supply of insect more practical. Live bats may be held in small repellent is a must. paper bags or in muslin bags about 12 inches When the net is first unpacked, the string deep with tie strings (not draw strings) at loops ordinarily will be found gathered in the top. The use of a headlight, preferably bunches in the proper sequence at the center

Figure 13.--Four-shelf mist net in operation. CAPTURING WITH MIST NETS 17 of the folded net. By carefully opening the net, tension by adjusting the poles or by snugging separating the two bunches of loops, and pick­ the string loops to the poles with rubber bands. ing an outside loop. the netter can save consid­ Before closing the net, remove all trash erable time and trouble. A piece of white string that may have become entangled and mend 10 to 20 inches long should be tied securely to broken strings. Distribute the net evenly over the top loop at each end so that the top loop the shelf strings. Bring the string loops may be easily identified. together on the poles at either end of the net. Once installed on the poles. the net should Where human interference is not a problem, be opened by spacing the shelf strings at inter­ the net may be left on the poles for quick and vals on the poles. The lower string ought to be easy opening the following evening. If the net 6 or 8 inches above the ground or water. Each is to be removed from the poles. the string higher string should be spaced so that the shelf tied to the top string loop at each end should that it forms will have a pocket of net hanging be passed through all loops and knotted with loosely behind the next lower string. Thus the a bowknot to keep the loops in proper sequence. open face of a net 7 feet deep should be not Remove the trussed loops from the first more than 5 or 6 feet deep. When the net is pole and hold them firmly in one hand while billowed by strong winds, it is necessary to reaching out 2 to 3 feet with the other hand to place the shelf strings closer together in order grasp the net and fold it back to the first to provide adequate pockets. hand, and so forth (fig. 14-a). Walking toward When open, the net must be taut enough so the other pole, keep the net taut and fold it that it will not sag. but loose enough so that back and fonh until all of it has been collected bats cannot struggle free or bounce off. The between the two hands (fig. 14-b). Now double shelf strings should give slightly to finger and redouble the folded net into a compact pressure. Sagging may develop later because bundle with the shelf-string loops on the out­ of stretching. If this occurs. restore the proper side (fig. 14-c).

t

0

Figure 14.--Dismantling a mist net . See text for details. 18 COLLECTING METHODS

Nees should be scored in small cloth or way through the net the wrong way, freeing all paper bags, where they will dry oucfascerchan of the fingers and bunching all ofthe entangling in plastic bags. If nets are not co be used again thread above the elbow. Usually the wing can immediately, they should be thoroughly air­ then be extracted easily. dried before storage. Once out of the net, a bat can be kept alive in a cloth or paper (but not plastic) bag, Operation but it is desirable to band and release all bats as quickly as possible. The proper number of nets to set depends on the availability of net sites, the abundance of Maintenance bats, and the ability of the netter to keep the nets clear of tangled bats. Where the netter is When bats are being netted, it is not not fully occupied with a few nets, he can set unusual for shelf strings to be severed, render­ more, over a wider area, and make a continuous ing that part of the net inoperable, since no circuit to remove bats. The time lapse between pocket can be formed. checks of a particular net should not be more To repair a broken string raise the break than an hour. to eye-level, raise the next higher string as Maintain proper spacing and tension of high as possible, and lower the next lower shelf strings. Keep the net distributed so that string as low as possible, then loop rubber it is loose over its whole width. Keep the net bands through the net above the broken area clear of leaves, sticks, flowers, and other so that the track of the broken string will be trash. Remove insects, particularly beetles, level and easily traced, Snip off the frayed as quickly as possible. Shake droplets of rain ends of the broken shelf string and, using or dew from the net. Keep a close check on a pair of forceps, rethread it from each end the bottom shelf to insure that it is clear of as far as possible through the track. It is not the ground or water, and be constantly alert necessary to weave it in and out of every mesh to avoid stepping into the bottom shelf or in the net as it originally was, but it should hooking upper shelves with buttons or buckles. be looped through every fifth mesh at least. Often the best netting sites are across To the longer remnant, attach a piece of trails or roadways that are infrequently used; black nylon fishing line. Thread the fishing otherwise, the nets must be guarded to prevent line splice through the remaining gap in the people on foot or on horseback from plowing string track until the other end of the broken into them. There may be a similar problem on shelf string is reached. Tie an overhand knot small navigable streams across which nets in the end of this shelf string remnant and might be set. Nets should not be left unattended pass the fishing line through it until the broken in places where cattle or horses are known ends of the shelf string meet. Tighten the to be roaming. When nets are installed around overhand knot and knot the fishing line splice houses it may be necessary to set the lower around the shorter shelf string remnant. Snip shelf high enough to allow dogs, cats, and other off the surplus ends and redistribute the net small domestic stock to pass beneath. over the mended shelf string. Remove bats through the open side of the While it is a simple matter to repair a shelf pocket. Immobilize a bat by using a cloth string, it usually is not practical or desirable to collecting bag as a baffle. Slip the bag beneath repair the mesh of the net itself. When a net has the bat so that it will bite into the bag, then too many large holes it should be discarded. grasp its neck and holditsecurely. Ordinarily, Nets too damaged to be used for regular the bat will continue to grasp the bag with its netting may be cut into shorter lengths for teeth throughout the process. Holding the bat netting at culverts, cave mouths, or tree holes, securely, release first the feet, then the wings, where only short pieces of net are needed. The and finally the head. If a wing has become shelf strings should be maintained so that bats particularly entangled it should be pulled all the flying into the net will be pocketed. CAPTURING WITH MIST NETS 19 Net sites just within the forest or brush, rather than in the opening. The edges offruitgroves often are Situations where bats fly in numbers are panicularly productive. Nets may also be set most likely to be productive. Bats often use with good results on approaches to roosts, streams, canyons, ripe paths, roads, and forest fruit trees, and flowering plants. edges as flyways. Some species may be caught The netter should take advantage of obsta­ night after night in nets set across a flyway, cles, baffles, and background to camouflage his whereas others may be taken effectively only nets. He should sec nets at bends in screams during the first few minutes of the night. If the rather than in straight screeches; just below the collector establishes a number of netting areas crest of a hill rather than on top; parallel to the and works each one of them only a night or two forest edge rather than perpendicular to it; and at a time, and returns lacer in a cyclic pattern, in areas relatively free of underbrush but hav­ his netting success should be greatly improved ing an abundance of ocher obstacles that (fig. 15). bats must dodge. Nets should be set, if possible, Netting ls sometimes effective on ridge under the canopy of forest, brush, or even iso­ crests or at the edges of clearings. At a clear­ lated trees. A large low horizontal limb or a ing the net should be set parallel to the edge, leaning leafy tree may provide a good site. In humid areas netting is usually mqst productive at cave mouths or near other roost­ ing places. In arid regions, swimming pools, stock watering tanks, or pools in intermittent streams may be strikingly productive sites. On the other hand, in the tropics (at least in tropical America) bats are so abundant that mist nets will catch them wherever the nets may be set. Undoubtedly light is the most imponant single factor in the success or failure of mist netting; most bats are caught most readily in total darkness. Results usually will be best if the netting program can be adjusted to the moon cycle. A night with a light breeze is preferable to a still one, for the breeze billows out the net pockets and stirs the vegetation to help camou­ flage the nets. On the other hand, a strong wind stretches the nets and makes it necessary for them to be set perpendicular to the wind direction, regardless of other qualifications of the sites. Droplets of rain or dew adhering to the nets render them less effective. Wind, under these circumstances, may be beneficial in freeing the nets of droplets. Mountainous areas that are shrouded at night with fog or mist may be successfully netted thanks to buffeting winds. Figure 15.--Possible productive net However, netting during steady rain ordinarily sites along a stream. is futile, for most bats are inactive then. 20 HOLDING CAGES

HOLDING CAGES Bell cage

A device for collecting large numbers of When a number of bats have been collected, bats in attics (Bell, 1961) consists of a sheet­ it is necessary to hold them until data can be metal sleeve (or several quan oil cans open recorded and the bats banded, Sanders have de­ at both ends and fastened together) suspended vised a number of holding cages. at waist level by a leather strap around the neck. At the lower end a cloth bag is attached Hitchcock cage by rubber band. Bats are dropped into the upper end of the sleeve until a sufficient num­ Hitchcock used cylindrical cages of 1/4- ber accumulate, when a new sleeve is substi­ inch wire screening topped with smooth galva­ tuted. nized sheet iron or aluminum. The cages are of three sizes, permitting them to be nested. Davis cage The largest should not be over 10 inches in diameter unless a cover is fixed, for bats some­ Another carrying cage useful for work times manage to escape these. in an attic is made of a I-gallon antifreeze can Myers cage with both ends removed (W. H. Davis, 196la). Two hooks and a cord are attached so that it can be carried around the neck. A bag covers A collapsible cage devised by Myers ( 1961) the can, fastened near the top with a strong is about 14 by 18 inches, with sides and bottom rubber band. Small nylon knit laundry bags of of cotton or nylon net or seine, and a circular 3/16-inch mesh are preferred. plywood top with a hole in the center over which is attached a rubber sheet with a slit opening (fig. 16-a). A rope handle is attached to the ply­ wood. These cages can be hung around the operator's neck, and one person rope lo llon11 can carry six oround neck wooden or seven along with other equipment. Each cage nylon elo•llc hoop will hold about 400 to 500 Myotis without suffo­ mesh cating them. The cages are lightweight and col­ fl ber91ou lapse into a small package. Their chief disad­ mull vantage is that they must be hung up; otherwise wooden they collapse and may crush the bats inside. The bats may chew the net, but fine-mesh nylon plywood •1111 has lasted two years before needing replace­ curve to flt chest ment. T .Cl) nettlnq or Hin Mumford cage

A simple cage with a wooden base and pl,..off hardware cloth nailed around it was made by R. E. Mumford. For the top, a flberQIOU a piece of old mesh inner tube was fastened to the edges, with a slit in the center large enough to admit •OOden the supports hand with several bats in it. The slit is kept closed by adjusting the tension on the rubber c top. James Cope added a hinged wooden top. When the cage is full, the top is swung over the Figure 16.--Types of holding cages. slit until the bats are to be banded and released. See text for details. BANDING TECHNIQUES 21

Hamilton-Smith cage Harold Hitchcock found that opening bands in advance, in comfort, is better than doing it In Australia, Hamilton-Smith (1964) de­ in the field, both for the operator and for the signed a cage (fig. 16-b) made of fiber-glass bats. He used a gently tapered knitting needle mesh fixed on two laminated wooden hoops, with or crochet hook and stored the bands on cords an elastic nylon mesh funnel at the opening. This of the sort found on venetian blinds. cage will conveniently carry over 100 bats with­ Another active bander, Merlin Tuttle, out injury, and when not in usecanbe flattened found it tedious to open large numbers of bands. to a small bundle. A modification of this cage He used a steel rod with a diameter slightly uses fiber-glass mesh on a wooden framework; larger than that of the band. One end of the rod it has a plywood top with a round opening was ground to a point sufficiently tapered to covered by a sliding plate (fig. 16-c). permit opening the band to the desired width. Some notes of caution are indicated with The bands were strung on a straightened wire regard to holding bats. To prevent injuryfrom coat hanger in lots of 100 per hanger. Strung overcrowding and water loss, they should be bands were kept in cloth bags tied to prevent held for as short a time as possible. If they loss. have to be kept many hours, water should be Bat banders at the University of Arizona provided. In winter, cave bats should be kept have developed a method of opening and holding where the temperature is above freezing and bands with a steel rod so that they are spread released inside the cave, unless the weather is to the proper size and are in correct numerical mild. Unless one is conducting homing experi­ order. The rods, tapered at one end, are of the ments, bats should be released at the place of diameter desired for the bands when spread capture. If they are released elsewhere, this and are long enough to hold 100 bands. The fact should be noted on the record cards bands are removed singly from the wire, placed supplied by the Bat-banding Office. on the tapered end of the rod, and forced onto the rod by driving the tapered end into a drilled BANDING TECHNIQUES wooden block. Smith ( 1964) described a band opener Conspicuously absent from the literature modified from a pair of bow-opening 7-inch are precise, detailed instructions on how to pliers with a set-screw. The band is placed properly place a band on a bat. Most veteran over the closed tips of the opener. The pliers' handers have developed their own methods and handles are squeezed to open bands which may passed them on to students and assistants either be fastened on a bat or placed in a through demonstration rather than in written container, or in series on cord or rod for form. later use. The amount to which the band is Some handers consider it important to band opened may be regulated easily by adjusting large numbers of bats as rapidly as possible, the set-screw. disregarding -the injuries and low recoveries of banded specimens that can result when bands Preparation of bats are carelessly opened and closed. When the bats have been collected, they Preparation of bands may be readied for banding in several ways. Many handers suggest that the bats should be Bat bands are currently supplied as closed separated into groups of like sex and age, each rings, each bearing a different number, ar­ group banded with a uniformly numbered series ranged in numerical sequence on flexible wire. of bands. If the worker cannot distinguish im­ Before use they must be spread apart evenly matures from adults, he should at least distin­ with ice picks, metal rods, knitting needles, or guish sex. Considerable time may be required other implements. Considerable field time can to separate the groups if a large number of be saved if the bands are spread in advance. bats are to be banded. In this case the worker 333-49 1 0 - 69 - ' 22 BANDING TECHNIQUES

may find it advantageous to band each bat as it is classified, from a separate string of bands reserved for that panicular age and sex. Keep­ ing like age and sex groups in one sequence eliminates the necessity of later making out separate record cards for each bat.

Closing bands

Many handers close small bands by hand, provided the metal is not too hard, but this can be tiring and painful. W. H. Davis found that band-aid pads on thumb and index finger gave protection. Larger bands and anodized bands are roo hard to be closed by hand. Straight and curved long-nosed pliers have been used by some handers. W, H. Davis (1965) found that the use of bent long-nosed pliers permits banding a bat every 8 seconds. Smith ( 1964) described a band closer made from flat-nosed pliers with semicircular open­ Figure 17.--Banding pliers . ings cut out for a No. 2 band on the inner face adding a set of each jaw about S mm. from the tip. When the - screw for adjusting the closing limit jaws are closed the matching openings approxi­ and attaching a chain to the handle to prevent loss. mate the size and shape of the closed band. The tips of the pliers were rounded off approxi­ mately parallel to the inner curvatures, and Removing bands the flat inner surfaces were filed so that when There are occasions when it is necessary closed there was a 1-mm. gap between the tips. to remove a band from a live bat. For No. 1 To prevent losing the implement in caves or bands, Hitchcock accomplished this with a pair attics, a light chain and belt-loop were attached of fine scissors, while W. H. Davis used the to one handle (fig. 17). To apply, a band is two ends of the copper wire on which the bands placed over the distal pan of the forearm with were strung. For larger bands, Yunick (1963) the fingers or with the pliers, and the pliers devised a modification of the field or snap-ring are used to clinch it. Both band and closer pliers used by bird handers, in the No. 12 are slipped over the forearm from directly in external size. front. In affixing the band, the wing membrane is not cut or squeezed (except perhaps momen­ tarily) by the band and is not touched by the General techniques pliers. The closer should be so adjusted (by It cannot be overemphasized that careful a few strokes of a file) that the applied band banding will prevent injuries and that many of will not slide along the wing by itself, but can the injuries blamed on inadequate bands could be moved with the fingers back and forth along have been eliminated by more careful banding. the forearm without cutting or tearing the wing Each band is closed so that the edges do not membrane. quite touch the wing membrane. Ideallythe·gap Some bat handers have modified the should be loose enough for the bands to slide Kennard bird-banding pliers, which have the freely but not so far as to slide beyond the gripping surface drilled out to fit the band, by wrist. HEALTH HAZARDS 23 Merlin Tuttle banded several thousand and closing the ends. Incorrect sized bands, Myotis grisescens in the caves of Tennessee, sharp comers and edges, all may produce using size 0 bands which may be closed easily injuries. Still to be designed ls an altogether without pliers. Ninety percent of his recoveries satisfactory band. were in excellent condition; 10 percent had For keeping records of injuries, Herreid, partially embedded bands, most of which could Davis, and Short (1960) classified band con­ be read easily. Only five band infections were ditions into four categories: noted. Tuttle sits on the floor of a cave with a glove on his left hand and a burlap bag across 1. Good con di ti o n--no irritation ob­ one knee. With his gloved hand he holds the served. bat's left wing and body, pressing the body to his lcnee covered by the bag. With his right 2. Irritation--flrst outward sign of some hand he places a band on the bat's outstretched injury caused by the band. right forearm. During this time, his left thumb and index finger help to steady the bat's fore­ 3. Wing tear--produced by repeated arm. The band is attached from the anterior rubbing action of rough front edges or edge of the wing, about 1/4 to 1/2 inch toward comers of band on flight membrane the body from the wrist. The band is closed with of wing. the thumb and index finger, applying equal pres­ sure all along its length until the two moving 4. Embedded--band embedded in flesh of edges are almost touching the membrane. The forearm; swollen forearm, scar tissue final result is a round, almost closed band with over band, with pus and scabbing edges parallel about 1 mm. apart. If the edges usually evident and complete healing come ~olldly together at one end while still seldom seen; front edges often deep in open at the other, the band is distorted and is the flesh and partially embedded in more likely to cause irritation. Once the band the bone. is correctly in place, the bat is released. Banding techniques are still being im­ Their results indicated that the lipped bat proved. Some handers suggest that the ideal band caused injury at a slower rate than the band would be one that pierces the wing mem­ bird band; that bat bands caused fewer em­ brane and is so tightly closed that it will not bedding injuries; and that bat bands caµsed slip out of the hole. w. H. Davis (1965) more wing tear. suggests that eastern plplstrelles be banded Dwyer (1965) analyzed band-induced in­ with No. 1 bands inserted through the wing juries for three species of Australian bats, membrane and closed off center. comparing aluminum bird bands and flanged Monel metal bat bands, The bat bands did not Possible iniuries to bats produce as serious injuries as the bird bands, Perry and Beckett (1966) reported on Injuries to bats by banding have been skeletal injuries due to banding. On some reported by various workers (Bels, 1952; 10,000 neonatal Tadarida braslliensis the most Cockrum, 1956; Cranbrook and Barrett, 1965; frequent and serious injuries were on those Dwyer, 1965; Herreid, Davis, and Short, 1960; banded with small No. 1 bands, which damaged Hitchcock, 1957). Until recently, few banders the developing bones of the forearm and manus. were concerned about such injuries, and while some figures are available for rate of injury, handers were even less concerned about mor­ HEALTH HAZARDS tality as a result of band injuries. Some handers feel that injuries are due to Bats are known to be involved with cer­ careless banding, while others feel that many tain diseases which affect man, such as rabies injuries are produced by bat's biting the bands and hlstoplasmosis, and bat handers should 24 SECURING DATA be aware of hazards. Some48ofthe 218 species first-aid procedures are recommended in all of New World bats distributed from Panama bite wounds, including those unrelated to northward have a published record of being possible exposure to rabies: immediate wash­ rabies positive. ing and flushing with soap and water, detergent or water alone." If possible, hot water should be used, and washing should continue for at Rabies least 10-15 minutes.

Since many handers may be working with bat populations known or suspected to be rabid, Histoplasmosis the W.H.O. Expert Committee on Rabies (1966) recommends (p. 19) as follows: Hlstoplasmosis is a microscopic fungus "Persons who run an unusually high risk disease caused by the airborne spores of the of repeated exposures, such as field natural­ mold Histoplasma capsulatum. Emmons ( 1958) ists, etc., should be protected by pre-exposure first pointed out the relation between bats immunization. Such immunization may consist (Eptesicus fuscus), infesting a house in of a short course of two to three injections v_f a Maryland, and the disease. Ajello and Greenhall potent anti-rabies vaccine, preferably of a (1962) state that bat habitats, such as caves non-nervous tissue type, at 1-month intervals, and hollow trees, may be sources of acute and followed by a booster injection of vaccine 6 occasionally fatal cases ofhlstoplasmosls. The months later. The presence of serum­ hazards presented by such habitats should be neutralizing antibodies in vaccinated individ­ brought to public attention. uals should be ascertained on a serum sample Since the disease is not always easily drawn one month after the booster injection. recognizable and may be confused with tubercu­ If negative, booster doses should be repeated losis, any bat bander should immediately con­ until antibodies become demonstrable. Further sult his physician if the following symptoms booster injections should be administered at appear (5 to 18 days after exposure): general intervals of 1 to 3 years as long as the exposed malaise, weakness, fever, chest pains, and a person remains a risk. dry or productive cough (Gordon, 1965). "Sufficient information is not available to permit firm recommendations as to the best procedure to follow when an immunized person SECURING DATA who has demonstrated an antibody response in the past is exposed to rabies. The following Relatively little ecological knowledge ts recommendations are based on immunological available concerning our North American bats. principles: one booster dose of vaccine in the Sanders are encouraged to record all possible case of mild exposure or five daily doses of data on the habits, distribution, and life history vaccine followed by a booster dose 20 days later of various species. Besides the date and for severe exposures." locality, facts concerning temperature, humid­ It is beyond the scope of this manual to ity, wind, and rainfall are useful. A description discuss the specific treatment of wounds of the roost ls desirable. Concerning seasonal involving possible exposure to rabies. This behavior, observations might include data on should be done by or under the direction of a m igra tlon, hibernation, and segregation of bats physician. by sex and age. Details of dally behavior might However, the World Health Organization concern communication, echolocation, and states (p. 34) that the "prompt and adequate flight patterns, while those of social behavior treatment of all bite wounds and scratches pos­ might include association with other species, sibly contaminated with rabies virus is of defense, and aggressiveness. Reproductive paramount importance. When medical assist­ data are needed for most species, especially ance is not promptly available, the following those of the tropics, such as on copulation, be- RECORDING DATA 25

havior during pregnancy, birth, numbers of Age young with size and sex ratios, care of the young, and weaning. Details on population The ages of bats are difficult to determine dynamics might include numbers, sex ratio and with any degree of accuracy, exceptthat up to a age distribution, turnover rates, birth and death certain period, which varies with species, one rates, dispersal, and sizes of home ranges. All may tell a very young bat from an adult. Imma­ these data are essential to the epidemiologist, ture bats retain their hooked milk teeth for sev­ since he must know the normal behavior of a eral months until the permanent teeth emerge. bat before he can recognize abnormal behavior Immatures may also be recognized by the carti­ produced by a disease. Thus, observations on laginous epiphyses of the fingers. The joints of predators, parasites, and procurement of food the metacarpals and phalanges of the wing are are also useful. swollen and tapered; they ossify to the smaller knobby joints of mature bats. This character disappears relatively soon in vespertilionid Population size bats (a few months for Myotls and Pipistrellus} and somewhat longer in molossids. The bats in a colony may be counted Features distinguishing adult from im­ individually if the colony is small. An accurate mature insectivorous bats may be lost by late method of counting Molossus as they emerge summer and fall. The ages of adult bats cannot from buildings has been devised by Greenhall be reliably determined, although the degree of and Stell (1960). Numbers of bats in caves may wear on the teeth provides a useful guide. Very be estimated from the area occupied by clus­ old bats have well-worn canine and molar teeth. ters. One must first determine how many In a study of Tadarida brasiliensis, Davis, occupy a given area, such as a square foot, Herreid, and Short (1962} found tooth wear to and then determine the total area occupied. be the one consistent means for determining the A shortcoming of this method is that many bats age of adult bats. The use and value of tooth hang in masses several layers deep. wear in age analyses of bats are further For estimating large cave aggregations, discussed by Hall et al. (1957), Stegman (1956), several methods based on the recapture of and Twente (1955). marked individuals have been used, variously known as the "Lincoln index," "Peterson­ Sex and breeding data J a ck son method," and "tagging ratio." A capture-recapture method assumes con­ External genitalia usually make sex deter­ ditions that are rarely true in nature. Some mination in bats simple. If there is doubt, a workers have found the Lincoln index useful if dead animal should be dissected to confirm its there are many bats in a relatively small space. sex. Breeding males generally are distinguish­ A. sample of bats may be banded and released able from nonbreeding males by the enlarged in the roost.. As soon as possible after they testes which can be withdrawn into the abdomen have settled down, not later than the evening at will. Females have mammary glands near of the same day the bats leave the roost, a good the armpits; in lactating females, nipples are sample is recaptured. The totalnumberofbats enlarged and often a small amount ofmilkmay is estimated by the recapture ratio of banded be expressed from them. bats to unhanded bats. This may be expressed by ~:§...= M:!i, where P is the total population, M the total number of marked individuals that RECORDING DATA have been released in the area,_§_ the size of the sample, and .!!_ the number of recoveries It is essential to record at least five items in the sample. The w o r king formula is of information for each bat banded: (I) Band P =.sM!.R. Various other methods of estimat­ number; (2) species; (3) date banded; (4) place ing populations are discussed by Mosby (1963). banded; (5) sex. The Bat-banding Office sup- 26 RECORDING DATA plies data cards on which these items are to Sex be entered (fig. 18). The bottom of the card is reserved for recovery data to be entered by The sex of all animals banded should be the Bat-banding Office. indicated. In addition, it is desirable to record whether they are juveniles or adults; breeding Band number or nonbreeding males; nongravid, pregnant, or lactating females. This is entered at the upper left corner of the card. Up to 100 consecutive numbers may Bander be listed on one card, provided the bats are all The name of the cooperator to whom the of the same species and sex, banded on the same bands were issued and, if not the same, that date and at the same locality. Remember that of the person who did the actual banding should multiple band numbers listed on a single card be entered. must be in a consecutive series. Otherwise, filing of the card for future retrieval is almost Other information impossible. Additional information may be valuable and should be entered on the back of the data Species card. It might include weights (in grams) of individual bats, measurements (in mllli­ No bat should be banded until its identity meters), notes on habitat, parasites, and be­ is cenain. The recovery of a banded bat that havior, and estimates of actual sizes of bat was misidentified may not only be wonhless, aggregations. but actually may lead to misinformation regarding the species involved. Only normal, healthy bats should be banded, and great care should be taken to insure that they are not in­ All data cards should be completed and jured through trapping, handling, or banding. forwarded to the Bat-banding Office as soon as possible.

Date SUPPLEMENT ARY The date should be entered as day, month, and year, in that order. The month should be INFORMATION written out, or indicated by a Roman numeral, FOR BANDERS to avoid confusion, e. g., 2 February 1965, or 2-11-1965. Recoveries Band numbers of recovered bats should be Locality double-checked, preferably by two persons. If the bat is found dead, the band should be sent The locality of banding should be recorded to the Bat-banding Office for verification. accurately--indicate country, state, county Include also a written record of the number (province or depanment), and town, in that in case the band becomes lost from the enve­ order. If a bat was banded in a rural area, the lope, as sometimes happens. exact banding site should be given in relation A form letter (in triplicate) is used by the to the nearest town, e.g., Smith Cave, 5 mi. Bat-banding Office to notify both the recoverer N, 3 mi. E of Smithville(distancemaybe given and the original bander of the pertinent data. in kilometers). For isolated localities it is One copy remains in the permanent files of the advisable to give latitude and longitude. banding office (fig. 19). RECORD CARDS 27

No. BAT 5-04801 through BAT 5-04900

Species: Tadarida brasiliensis Sex: cf Locality: Conner's Cave, Major Co., Oklahoma

Bander: Rogers and Rouk (for Bryan P. Glass) Date: 6 July 1966 Locality taken:

By Date:

Itn'.-DUI'. SEC .. IASH., D.C. 1147037-64

No. BAT 5-04882

Species: Tadarida brasiliensis Sex: cf Locality: Conner's Cave, Major Co., Oklahoma Bander: Date:

Locality taken: Campus of Schreiner Institute Kerrville, Texas By Col. J. O. Younts Date: 25 April 1967 Carcass completely dried M.-DUI'. S£C., IASH., D.C. 1147037-64

Figure 18.--Record card of banded bats (above) and record card of a recovered bat (below). 28 SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE BUREAU OF SPORT FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE WASHINGTON 25, 0 . C.

Recovered by: r , Date 27 June 1967 Col. J. o. Younts Schreiner Institute Re: Bat No. 5-~882 Kerrville, Texas 78208

L Dear Sir:

Thank you for Y.OUr recent conmuqj.cation regarding a bat bearing the number shown above, and reporting information as follows:

Species

Taken at Schreiner Institute, Kerrville, Texas Date 25 April 1967

Remarks Dead for ~ weeks; carcass completely dried. This bat was originally banded by the person listed at the bottom. Our files contain information on this specimen as checked below.

(X) Our data on this specimen are as follows:

Species Free-tailed bat (Tadarida brasiliensis) Sexi Kale Banded at: Conner's Cave, Major County, Oklahoma

Date 6 July 1966 Remarks

( ) We have not yet received a complet~ report from the bander. As soon as we receive this information, we will advise you.

We are grateful for your cooperation in reporting these recovery data. On the reverse is some descriptive material on the bat-banding program which may be of interest to you.

Yours sincerely,

Banded by: r , BAT-BANDING OFFICE Dr~ Bryan P. Glass Fish and Wildlife Service Department of Zoology u. s. National Jt.Jaeum Oklahoma State University Washington, D.c. 20$60 Stillwater, Oklahoma 74075 L J Figure 19.--Recovery form letter. SUPPLEMENT ARY INFORMATION 29

Preservation of specimens immerse in 10 percent formalin for several days. After fixing, the specimen should be Many bats are poorly known taxonomically. transferred to 70 percent alcohol or to a mix­ It is desirable to save for museums bats that ture of alcohol and glycerine. It should be kept accidentally die in the netting or banding proc­ covered with fluid, or may be wrapped in ess, or species that are ofunusualinterest and moistened cheesecloth and placed in a plastic unlikely to provide essential information if bag for mailing to a museum. The same data recaptured. Preservation is a simple matter, as recorded on a study skin should be attached either as study skin and skull or as a fluid­ to the specimen, written with waterproof ink preserved specimen. Instructions for both on stout water-resistant paper or cardboard. methods are given by Setzer (1963). In either case, be sure to record locality, date, standard measurements (in millimeters), sex, collector, catalog number, and other pertinent data. Cooperation of the public

Study skin and skull It may be extremely useful to educate the Standard study skins are prepared with the public concerning a banding program in prog­ wings closed to conserve space. Remove skin ress. When informed about the program, peo­ and superficial flesh from the skull, and dry ple are usually very cooperative in reponing the latter. All data should appear on the skin banded animals they encounter. Local news­ label. Besides the four standard measurements papers are generally interested in stories of (total length, length of tail venebrae, hind foot, activities in their circulation areas and pro­ and ear from notch) for bats it is customary vide an excellent means of advenising a also to record the length of the tragus (from bander's work. Local radio stations may the ear notch) and of the forearm. Weight should cooperate in this way. Harold B. Hitchcock be recorded in grams. The skull should be printed cards with information on bats and labeled with the field number, sex, and collec­ instructions for reponing them (fig. 20). tor's name, to aid later in matching with the These he circulated widely throughout New skin. England, and they produced a significant in­ crease in repons of banded bat recoveries. Fluid preserved specimen The success of any banding program depends primarily on keeping careful and Prop the mouth open with a stick so that the complete records and obtaining as many accu­ teeth can be seen. Slit the abdomen, and rate repons of recoveries as possible, 30 SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

IF YOU FIND A BANDED OR TAGGED BAT

neport the following by mail to the FISH & WILDLIFE SERVICE, \.Vashington, D. C...... tag number, date and place where found.

Remove the band, if t.hr: bat is dead, =ind mail it. If bat is not dead, merc:ly take down the ilumher; leave the bar.d iu pine<: an.i rele~e the hat. The Fish and \Vi!,ilife Sen·ice will notify you whea and where the bat was originally captured, and by whom it war. handed. The hander will also he notified.

(over)

BATS AH. E USEFUL. They live entirely on inst":cts. Ordinarily they should not he killed or molested.

HUT BE CAREFUL IN HANDLING THE.M. Like other furred animals ~hey may carry r:ihics. l-I.1ndle them 011ly with glov~s to avc.1id heing hiuen. If a bat hires ~t:it/· 0111 prov 1Jcnlio11, tr.1' to get the hat to the slate p11hlic h~,:t ~ h lnnora\ory for examination, .ind see ;, physil'ian fo1· anti-rabies treatment.

TNFOR~IATION ABOUT HAT COLONIES IS NEEnED in an investigation co11C•!rning their migratir>ns in the New Englanci area. Plc:ise write Prof. H . il. Hitchcock or Prof. W. H. Davis, Middlebury College, Mic!d:ebury, Vermont.

(om)

Figure 20.--Card distributed for local publicity. BIBLIOGRAPHY 31

Constantine, D, G. SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY 1958. An automatic bat-collecting device. J our. Wildl. Mgt., 22 (1): 17-22. Listed here are all references cited in the text, Cranbrook, Earl of, and H. G. Barrett. plus a few others of general interest to bat banders. 1965. Observations on{Nvctalus nocrula) captured This is by no means an exhaustive list of the extensive while feeding. Proc. Zool. Soc. London, 144 literature dealing with bats. (1): 1-24. Aellen, V. Dalquest, W. W. 1952. Baguement des chauve-souris dans le jura 1954. Netting bats in tropical Mexico. Trans. suisse. L'Ornithologiste, No. l: 8-17. Kansas Acad. Sci., 57: 1-10.

Agacino, E. M. Davis, R .. C. Herreid, and H. Short. 1938!. Un nouvel appareil pour la capture de 1962. Mexican free-tailed bats in Texas. Ecol. chiropteres. Mammalia, 2 (2): 89-94. Monogr .• 32: 311-346. 1938~. Note complementaire sur un nouvel appareil pour la Capture de chiropteres. Mammalia, Davis, R. 2 (3): 137-139. 1966. Homing performance and homing ability in bats. Ecol. Monogr., 36: 201-237. Ajello, L •• A. M. Greenhall, and J.C. Moore. 1962 Occurrence of Histoplasma capsularum on Davis, W. H. the island of Trinidad, B. W.I. II. Survey of 1960. Tips on techniques. Bat Banding News, 1: 3. chiropteran habitats. Amer. jour. Trop. 1961.!!. Tips on techniques. Bat Banding News, Med., 11 (2): 249-254. 2: 17, 18, 26-28. 1961.Q. Netting bats in August. Bat Banding News, Allen, A. A. 2: 32. 1921. Banding bats. jour. Mamm., 2 (2): 53-57. 1963.i. Anodizing bat bands. Bat Banding News, 4: 12-13. l 963b. Constantine trap. Bat Banding News, 4: 19. Allen, G. M. 1965. Tips on techniques. Bat Research News, 1939. Bats. Harvard Univ. Press, Cambridge, 6: 13-14. Mass. 368 p. (Paperback edition available, Dover Publications, 1962.) Davis, w. H., and H. B. Hitchcock. 1965. Biology and migration of the bat, Myotis Balliot, M. lucifugus in New England. jour. Mamm. 1964. Bilan de vingt-cinq annees des de baguage 46: 296-313. de chauve-souris en France. Bulletin du Centre de Recherches sur les migrations Dwyer, P. D. des mammiferes et des Oiseaux. Mamma­ 1965. Injuries due to bat-banding, Third and lia, suppl.: 9-53. Fourth Annual Reports on bat banding in Australia, C.S.I.R.O,, Div. Wildl. Research Bell, J. F. Paper No. 9: 19-24. 1961. Tips on techniques. Bat Banding News, 2 (1): 6. Egsbaek, W., and B. Jensen. 1963. Results of batbandinginDenmark, Vidensk. Bels, L. Medd, fra Dansk Narurh. Foren,, 125: 269- 1952. Fifteen years of bat banding in the Nether­ 296. lands. Publicaties van hetNatuurhistorisch Genootschap in Limburg. Series 5: 1-99. Eisentraut, M. 1960. Die Fledermausberingung, ihre Entwick­ Borell, A. E. lung, ihre Methode und ihse Bedeutung fiir 1937. A new method of collecting bats. jour. wissenschaftliche Forschung. Bonner Zoo­ Mamm., 18 (4): 478-480. logische Beitra"ge, 11: 7-14. Brosset, A. Emmons, C. W. 1966. La biologie des chiroptttes. Masson et 1958. Association of bats with histoplasmosis, Cie., Paris. 240 p. Public Health Reports, 73 (7): 590-595. Emmons, C.W.. and A, M. Greenhall. Campbell, C. A. R. 1962. Histoplasma capsulatum and house bats in 1925. Bats, mosquitoes and dollars. Stratford Co., Trinidad, W. I. Sabouraudia, 2 (1): 18-22. Boston. 262 p. Ghidinl, G. M. Cockrum, E. L. 1956, Costituzione di un centro di inanellamento 1956. Homing, movements and longevity of bats. pipistrelli. Rassegna Speleologica ltaliana, jour. Mamm., 37 (1): 48-57. 8 (3-4): 214-222. 32 BIBLIOGRAPHY

Glass, B. P. Herreid, C. F. 1956. Effectiveness of Japanese mist nets for 1959. Sexual dimorphism in teeth of the free­ securing bats in temperate latitudes. South­ tailed bat. ]our. Mamm., 40 (4): 538-541. western Naturalist, l: 136-138. 1958. Returns of Mexican free-tailed bats banded Herreid, C. F., R. B. Davis, and H. D. Short. in Oklahoma. ]our. Mamm., 39 (3): 435-437. 1960. Injuries due to bat banding. ]our. Mamm.• 1959. Additional returns from free-tailed bats 41 (3): 398-400. banded in Oklahoma. ]our. Mamm .. 40 (4): 542-545. Hitchcock, H. B. 1957. The use of bird bands on bats. jour. Mamm., Gordon, J. E •• Editor. 38 (3): 402-405. 1965. Control of communicable diseases in man. 1960. Bat-banding in the United States. Ring, 2 10th ed. American Public Health Assoc., (25): 277-280. New York. 282 p. 1965. Twenty-three years of bat banding in On­ tario and Quebec, The Canadian Field­ Goodwin, G. G., and A. M. Greenhall. Naturalist, 79 (1): 4-14. 1961. A review of the bats of Trinidad and Tobago. Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist.• 122 (Art. 3): Jackson, H. H. T. 187-302. 1926. Catching bats with gill nets. ]our. Mamm., 7 (3): 231. Greenhall, A. M., and G. Stell. 1960. Bionomics and chemical control of free­ Knudsen, J. W. tailed house bats (Molossus) in Trinidad. 1966. Biological techniques; collecting, pre­ U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Spec. <:ci. serving and illustrating plants and animals. Rept. - Wild!. No. 53. 20 p. - Harper and Row Publishers, New York. 525 p. Griffin, D. R. 1934. Marking bats. Jour. Mamm., 15 (3): 202- Kowalski, K.. A. Krazanowski, and R. Wojtusiak. 207. 1957. Report on bat-banding in Poland in the 1936. Bat banding. ]our. Mamm.. 17 (3): 235-239. years 1939-1953. Acta Theriol., 1: 109- 1940~. Migrations of New England bats. Bull. Mus. 158. Comp. Zool.• 86 (6): 217-246. 1940£. Notes on the life histories of New England Linsky, R. B.. and R. S. Casebeer. 1962. Bat banding in Costa Rica 1961. Bat Band­ cave bats. ]our. Mamm. • 21 (2): 181-187. 1945. Travels of banded cave bats.Jour.Mamm.. ing News, 3 (1): 8. 26 (1): 15-23. Lyman, S. H. Haarr, A. 1926. Collecting bats with a net. Jour. Mamm., 1963. Anodizing bat bands. Bat Banding News, 4 7 (3): 230. (4): 26-27. Manville, R. H. Hall, E. R., and W. W. Dalquest. 1962. Policy in issuing bat bands. Bat Banding 1963. The mammals of Vera Cruz. Univ. Kansas News, 3 (4): 28-29. Publs., Mus. Nat. Hist., 14 (14): 165-362. 1963. Accidental mortality in bats. Mammalia, 27 (3): 361-366. Hall, J. S. 1962. A life history and taxonomic study of the Miller, G. S., Jr. Indiana bat, Myotis sodalis. Reading Public 1907. The families and genera of bats. Bull. 57, Mus. and Art Gallery, Sci. Publ. 12: 1-68. U.S. Nat. Mus. 282 p.

Hall, J. S., R. J. Cloutier, and D. R. Griffin. Mohr. C. E. 1957. Longevity records and notes on tooth wear 1934. Marking bats for later recognition. Proc. of bats. Jour. Mamm., 38 (3): 407-409. Penna. Acad . Sci,, 8: 26-30. 1942~. Bat tagging in Pennsylvania Turnpike tun­ Hamilton-Smith, E. nels. ]our. Mamm., 23 (4): 375-379. 1964. Field equipment for collecting bats. Bull. l 942E. Results of ten years' bat marking in Penn­ Australian Mamm. Soc., 7: 7-10. sylvania. Proc. Penna. Acad. Sci., 16: 1966. Portable Constantine trap. Australian Bat 32-36. Res. News, 5: 2-3. 1953. A survey of bat banding in North America. 1932-1951. AmericanCaverBull., 14: 3-13. Hanak, V., J. Gaisler, and J. Figala. 1962. Results of bat banding in Czechoslovakia, Mosby, H. S. 1948-1960. Acta Universitatis Carolinae­ 1963. Wildlife investigational techniques. 2d ed. Biologica 1962, (1): 9-87. Wildl. Soc.• Blacksburg, Va. 419 p. Haught, J. C. Myers, R. F. 1963. Anodizing bat bands. Bat Banding News, 1961. Collapsible banding cage. Bat Banding 4 (2): 12-13. News, 2 (1): 6-8. BIBLIOGRAPHY 33

Nelson, J. Topal, G. 1965. Techniques and equipment: hanging of mist 1956. The movements of bats in Hungary, Ann. nets. Australian Bat. Res, News, 4: 1-2. Historico-Naturales Musei Nationalis Hun­ garici. Series Nova, 7: 477-489. Paradiso, J. L .. and A, M. Greenhall. 1962. Some experiences and results of bat banding 196 7. Longevity records for American bats. in Hungary, Proc. Int. Sympo, on Methods Amer. Midland Nat., 78: 351. of Mammal Investigations: Czechoslovakia. Perry, A, E,. and G. Beckett. Trapido, H. • and P. E. Crowe, 1966. Skeletal damage as a result of band injury 1946. The wing-banding method in the study of the in bats. jour. Mamm,, 47 (1): 131-132. travels of bats. jour. Mamm.. 27 (23): 224- 226. Purchase, D., and P. M. Hiscox. 1960. A first report on bat-banding in Australia. Twente, J. W. 1955. Aspects of a population study of cavern­ C,S,l,R,O.. Wildlife Res. Tech. Paper 2: 1-16, dwelling bats. jour. Mamm,, 36 (3): 379- 390. Rosevear, D.R. U.S. Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife, 1965. The bats of West Africa. British Museum 1962. Control of bats. Wildlife Leaflet 333. 4 p. (Narural History), London. 418 p. Van Gelder, R, G. Ryberg, O. 1959. A new Antrozous (Mammalia: Vespertil­ 1947. Studies on bats and bat parasites. Zool. ionidae) from the Tres Marias Islands, Inst. Univ. of Lund, Stockholm. 330. p. Nayarit, Mexico. Amer. Mus. Novitates No. 1973: 1-11. Setzer, H, w. 1963. Directions for preserving specimens for Van Tyne, J. museum study, Smithsonian Inst. Infor­ 1933. The trammel net as a means of collecting mation Leaflet 380: 1-18. bats. jour. Mamm. • 14 (2): 145-146. Verschuren, J. Silver, J. 1957. Ecologie, biologie et systematique des 1935. Eliminating bats from buildings. U,S, Dept, cheiropteres: Inst. Pares Nationaux du Agr. Leaflet 109. 5 p. Congo Beige, Fae. 7. 473 p. Simpson, K. G., and E, Hamilton-Smith. Villa-R., Bernardo, 1965. Third and fourth a1U1ual reports on bat­ 1966. Los murcielagos de Mexico. lnstituto de banding in Australia. C,S.l,R.O., Div. Wild­ Biologia, Universidad Nacional Autonoma life Res. Tech. Paper No. 9: 1-24. de Mexico. 491 p, Walley, H. Sluiter, J. W., P. F. Heerdt, and J. J. Bezem. 1963. Bat prongs. Bat Banding News, 4 (4): 28. 1956. Population statistics of the bat, Myotis mystacinus, based on the marking­ W.H.O, Expert Committee on Rabies. recapture method. Arch. Neerland. Zool., 1966. Fifth report. World Health Org, Tech. 12: 63-88. Rept. Ser. No. 321: 1-38. Smith, D, A. Wilson, S, J., S, G. Lane, and J. L. McKean. 1964. New banding tools. Bat Research News, 5 1965, The use of mist-nets in Aus tr a Ii a. (3): 22-23. C,S,l.R,O., Div. Wildl, Res., Tech. Paper 8: 1-26. Stegman, L, C. 1956, Tooth development and wear in Myotis Yunick, R. lucifugus. jour. Mamm. • 37 (1): 58-63, 1963, Band removal, Bat Banding News, 4 (3): 20, 34 CHECKLIST OF NORTH AMERICAN BATS

Appendix A--CHECKLIST OF NORTH AMERICAN BATS

The following checklist includes 218 rec­ may be deceptive, since the ratio between length ognized species of New World bats, ranging and diameter of arm bones is different in dif­ from Panama nonhward (including Trinidad ferent species. As more species are banded, we and Tobago, the West Indies, Bermuda, the hope that handers will inform us of the sizes Bahama Islands, and the Hawaiian Islands). the y find most appropriate. The following is We realize that the status of many has not been tentatively offered as a rough guide to select­ satisfactorily established, and some workers ing band sizes: (including ourselves) will disagree with cer­ Forearm 25-45 mm: band size 0 or 1, tain names used or relationships implied. The Forearm 45-65 mm: band size 1 or 2. list is intended as an uncritical reflection of the Forearm 65 mm. or most recent work by recognized authorities. more: band size 2 or 3. Genera follow the arrangement of Simpson (l 945). Some handers advocate the use of the size The wisdom of including such species as 2 band even for very small bats such as Monophyllus frater, Phyllonycteris major, and Pipistrellus subflavus (forearm 33 mm.), and Phyllonycteris obtusa (currently known only it may well be that this size is suitable and from cave remains) in a manual such as ~Ms practical for most of the bats listed. Experience may be questioned. They are listed, however, in banding the various kinds will be the only not only for the sake of completeness but sure way of determining proper band size. because some may eventually be found living, An asterisk (•) before a name denotes that and perhaps in numbers sufficiently large for there is a published record of that species as study through a banding program. rabies positive. For each species we give the scientific name, the authority, the date of the original description, a suggested common name, and List of Spiecies brief notes on distribution, sociability, and habitat. Colony size is rated as follows: Family EMBALLONURIDAE

Small: up to 10 individuals. Rhynchonycteris naso (Wied-Neuwied), 1820. Medium-sized: 10 to 100 individuals. Brazilian long-nosed bat. Southern Mexico Large: 100 to 1,000 individuals. south through Central America to Peru and Very large: over 1,000 individuals. Brazil, including Trinidad. Forearm 35- Numbers are assigned to the species for 40. Small colonies; hollow trees, foliage, possible use as codes in a data retrieval on bark of trees, in culvens, buildings, system under consideration. The first pair of and bridges. 010101. digits in these numbers denotes the family, Saccopteryx bilineata (T em min ck), 1838. the second pair the genus, and the third the Greater white-lined bat. Southern Mexico species. It should be noted that data on socia­ south to Bolivia and Brazil, including bility and habitat are not available for about 40 Trinidad. Forearm 42-52. Medium-sized percent of the species listed. This points to colonies; caves, foliage, hollow trees, the need for more research on the habits of bridges, culve ns, and buildings. 010201. these important animals. Saccopteryx leptura (Schreber), 1774. Lesser We have tried to give a range of measure­ white-lined bat. Panama south to Peru and ments of forea rm length in milimeters for Brazil, including Trinidad. Forearm 37- each species. This may assist the bander in 42. Small colonies; caves, foliage, hollow determining a suitable band size for the species trees, bridges, culvens, and b•1ildings. he expects to encounter. These measurements 010202. CHECKLIST OF NORTH AMERICAN BATS 35

Comura brevirostris (Wagner), 1843. Wagner's Family PHYLLOSTOMIDAE sac-winged bat. Nicaragua south to Peru and northern Brazil. Forearm 43-50. • Pteronotus davyii Gray, 1838. Davy's naked­ Under logs and rocks. 010301. backed bat. Mexico to Brazil, and in the Peropteryx: kappleri Peters, 1867. Greater Lesser Antilles nonh to Dominica. Fore­ neotropical sac-winged b a t. Southern arm 42-48. Small colonies; caves, build­ Mexico south to Ecuador, Venezuela, and ings. 030101. Surinam. Forearm 45-54. 010401. Pteronotus fuliginosa Gray, 1843. Sooty mus­ Peropteryx macrotls (Wagner), 1821. Lesser tached bat. Jamaica, Haiti, Hispaniola, neotropical sac-winged b a t. Southern and Pueno Rico. Forearm 35-40. Large Mexico south to Peru and Brazil, includ­ colonies; caves and caverns, rock fis­ ing Trinidad. Forearm 38-48. Small col­ sures. 030102. onies; caves, buildings. 010402. .Pteronotus macleayii Gray, 1839. MacLeay's Centronycteris maximlliani (Fischer), 1829. mustached bat. Cuba and Jamaica. Fore­ Maximilian's bat. Honduras and Gua­ arm 37-44. 030103. temala, south to Ecuador and Brazil. Fore­ * Pteronotus parnellii (Gray), 1843. Greater arm 45. 010501. mustached bat. Mexico to Trinidad; also Balantlopteryx io Thomas, 1904. Thomas' occurs in Jamaica, Cuba, Pueno Rico, sac-winged bat. Recorded from Mexico Hispaniola. Forearm 60-63. Large col­ and Guatemala. Forearm 36-39. Large onies; caves. 030104. colonies; caves, under boulders, culvens, * Pteronotus psilotis Dobson, 1878. Lesser mines. 010601. mustached bat. Mexico to Trinidad. Fore­ Balantlopteryx plicata Peters, 1867. Peters' arm 45-51. Large colonies; caves. 030105. sac-winged bat. Mexico to Costa Rica. Pteronotus suapurensis (J. A. Allen), 1904. Forearm 38-46. Large colonies; caves, Suapure naked-backed bat. Nicaragua to undersides of projecting boulders, mines. Venezuela. Forearm 50-57. Caves. 03106 010602. Pteronotus torrei G. M. Allen, 1916. Torry's *Diclidurus albus Wied-Neuwied, 1820. Ghost mustachedbat. Cuba. Forearm 37. 030107. bat. NortheaStern South America, includ­ Mormoops blainvillii Leach, 1821. Blainville's ing Trinidad. Forearm 62. Solitary; foli­ leaf-chinned bat. Cuba, Jamaica, Hispan­ age. 010701. iola, and Pueno Rico. Forearm 46-48. *Diclidurus virgo Thomas, 1903. White bat. Small colonies; caves and caverns. 030201. Guatemala south to Panama. Forearm 66. *Mormoops megalophylla (Peters), 1864. Solitary; foliage. 010702. Peters' leaf-chinned bat. Mexico south to Cyttarops alecto Thomas, 1913. Infernal bat. northern Colombia, Venezuela, and Trini­ Recorded from Costa Rica, Guyana, and dad. Forearm 54-58. Medium-sized col­ Brazil. Forearm 46-47. Palm trees. onies; caves. 030202. 010801. Mkronycteris brachyotis (Doh son), 1878. Family NOCTILIONIDAE Yellow-throated bat. Panama to Trinidad. Forearm 39-41. Small colonies; hollow Noctllio labialis (Kerr), 1792. Southern bull­ trees, mine shafts. 030301. dog bat; Nicaragua south to nonhern Micronycteris hirsuta (Peters), 1869. Hairy Argentina. Forearm 58. Medium-sized big-eared bat. Costa Rica south to Colom­ colonies; foliage, hollow trees, buildings. bia and Trinidad. Forearm 44-49. Small 020101. colonies; hollow trees, under bridges, *Noctilio leporinus (Linnaeus), 1758. Fish­ buildings, in abandoned chimneys. 030302. eating bat. Southern Mexico and the West Micronycteris megalotis Gray, 1842. Little Indies south to Argentina. Forearm 83-88. big-eared bat. Mexico south to Peru and Medium-sized colonies; caves, rock fis­ Brazil, including Trinidad. Forearm sures, hollow trees, buildings. 020102. 33-35. Small colonies; caves, hollow trees, 36 CHECKLIST OF NORTH AMERICAN BATS

buildings, bridges, culvens, mines, wells, Tonatia mlnuta Goodwin, 1942. Lesser round­ drains, sewers, etc. 030303. eared bat. Nicaragua to Panama, and east Micronycteris minuta (Gervais), 1855. White­ of the Andes in Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, bellied big-eared bat. Panama to Trinidad. and Venezuela to Trinidad. Forearm Forearm 34-37. Small colonies; caves, 34-35. Small colonies; termite nests. hollow trees. 030304 030702. Micronycteris nicefori Sanborn, 1949. White­ Tonatia silvicola (D'Orbigny), 1836. Forest lined forest bat. Panama to Trinidad. round-eared bat. British Honduras south Forearm 37-39. Small colonies; buildings, to Peru and central Brazil. Forearm hollow trees, mines. 030305. 50-55. Hollow termite nests. 030703. Micronycteris schmidtorum Sanborn, 1935. Mimon cozumelae Goldman, 1914. Cozumel Schmidt's big-eared bat. Yucatan, Mexico, spear-nosed bat. Mexico south to Panama. to Panama. Forearm 35, Small colonies; Forearm 58. Sm a 11 colonies; caves. hollow trees. 030306. 030801. Micronycteris sylvestris (Thomas), 1896. Tri­ Mimon c re nu 1 at um (E. Geoffroy-Saint­ colored forest bat. Southern Mexico to Hillaire), 1810. Hairy spear-nosed bat. Panama; also on Trinidad. Forearm 40. Pan am a to Trinidad and eastern Brazil. Medium-sized colonies; ho 11 ow trees. Forearm 50. Small colonies; hollow trees, 030307. buildings. 030802. *Phyllostomus discolor Wagner, 1843. Lesser *Macrotus californicus Baird, 1858. California spear-nosed bat. Vera Cruz, leaf-nosed bat. Southwestern Unit e d Mexico, south to Peru and Brazil, including States, south through Baja California and Trinidad. Forearm 59-63. Medium-sized Sonora, Mexico. Forearm 49-51. Small to colonies; caves, hollow trees. medium-sized colonies; caves, tunnels, 030901. • Phyllostomus buildings. 030401. hastatus (Pallas), 1767. Greater spear-nosed bat, Honduras south to Peru, *Macrotus mexicanus Saussure, 1860. Mexican Bolivia, and Brazil, including Trinidad. leaf-nosed bat. Northe rn Mexico to Guate­ Forearm 79-82. Very large colonies; mala. Forearm 47-53. Small to medium­ caves, foliage, hollow trees, buildings. sized colonies; caves, tunnels, buildings. 030902. 030402. Phylloderma stenoes Peters, 1865. Neotropical Macrotus waterhousii Gray, 1843. Water­ spear-nosed bat. Honduras to Trinidad. house's leaf-nosed bat. Haiti, Jamaica, Forearm 69-71. 031001. Bahama Islands, and Cuba. Forearm 49- Trachops cirrhosus (Spix), 1823. Fringe-lipped 55. Solitary or small colonies; caves. bat. Mexico to Colombia and Brazil, 030403. including Trinidad. Forearm 58-60. Small Lon chorhina aurita Tomes, 1863. Long-nose­ colonies; hollow trees. 031101. leafed bat. Northern South A m e r i ca, Chrotopterus auritus (Peters), 1865. Big-eared including Trinidad and the Bahama Is­ false vampire bat. Mexico south to north­ lands, north in Central America to Mexico. ern Argentina, Paraguay, and southern Forea rm 49-50. Medium-sized to large Brazil. Forearm 80. 031201. colonies; caves, tunnels. 030501. Vampyrum spectrum (Linnaeus), 1758. Giant Macrophyllum macrophyllum (Schinz), 1821. spear-nosed bat. Southern Mexico south to Long-legged bat. El Salvador and Honduras northern South America, including Trini­ south to Colombia and northern Brazil. dad. Forearm 106-109. Small colonies; Forearm 37-45. Solitary or s ma 11 col­ hollow trees. 031301. onies; caves, buildings, culverts. 030601. Glossophaga longirostris Miller, 1898. Greater Tonatia bidens (Spix), 1823. Greater round­ long-tongued bat. Northern Colombia and eared bat. Costa Rica to Brazil and east Venezuela, including Trinidad. Forearm of the Andes in Peru. Forearm 58. Small 35-39. Small colonies; caves, buildings. colonies; hollow trees . 030701. 031401. CHECKLIST OF NORTH AMERICAN BATS 37

•Glossophaga soricina (Pallas), 1766. Lesser Choeronycteris mexicana Tschudi, 1844. Mexi­ long-tongued bat. Mexico south to north­ can long-tongued bat. Extreme southwest ern Argentina and Paraguay, including United States, through Mexico to western Trinidad. Forearm 32-40. Sm a 11 to Guatemala. Forearm 43-44. Medium­ medium-sized colonies; caves, hollow sized colonies; caves, rock fissures, trees, buildings, bridges, culverts. 031402. among exposed tree roots, mines, build­ Lonchophylla mordax Thomas, 1903. South ings. 031901. American long-tongued bat. Panama to Choeroniscus god man i (Thomas), 1903. Bolivia and Brazil. Forearm 34. 031501. Godman's long-tongued bat. Southern Lonchophylla robusta Miller, 1912. Panama­ Mexico to northern Panama. Forearm nian long-tongued bat. Panama to Colom­ 32-34. Small colonies. 032001. bia. Forearm 43-44. Caves. 031502. Choeroniscus intermedius (J. A. Allen and Lonchophylla tho m as i J. A. Allen, 1904. Chapman), 1893. Trinidadian long-tongued Thomas's long-tongued bat. Panama to bat. Guyana and Venezuela, north to Trini­ Venezuela. 031503. dad. Forearm 33-35. Small colonies; under Monophyllus clinedaphus Miller, 1900. Island fallen trees. 032002. long-tongued bat. Unknown. Forearm 39. Hylonycteris underwoodi Thom as, 1903. Un­ 031601. derwood's long-tongued bat. Mexico to Panama. Forearm 34. Small colonies; Monophyllus cubanus Miller, 1902. Cuban long­ caves, mines. 032101. tongued bat. Cuba and Hispaniola. Fore­ Lepronycteris curasoae arm 39. Caves. 031602. Miller, 1900. Cura15ao long-nosed bat. Netherlands West Indies. Monophyllus frater Anthony, 1917. Anthony's Forearm 54-55. 032201. long-tongued bat. Puerto Rico (known only •Leptonycteris nivalis (Saussure), 1860. Long­ from bone fragments). 031603. nosed bat. Southwestern United St ates, Monophyllus luciae Miller, 1902. St. Lucia south to Guatemala. Forearm 45-54. Large long-tongued bat. St. Lucia. Forearm 38. colonies; caves, mines, buildings. 032202. caves. 031604. Leptonycceris sanborni Hoffmeister, 1957. Monophyllus plethodon Miller, 1900. Barbados Sanborn's long-nosed bat. Southwestern long-tongued bat. Barbados. Forearm 38. United States to southern Mexico. Fore­ caves. 031605. arm 52-56. 032203. Monophyllus portoricensis Miller, 1900. Pu­ Lichonycteris obscura Thomas, 1895. Brown erto Rican long-tongued bat. Puerto Rico. long-nosed bat. Known from Nicaragua, Forearm 36-37. Large colonies; caves, Costa Rica, Panama, and Surinam. Fore­ 031606. arm 33. 032301. Monophyllus redmani Leach, 1821. Jamaican Musonycteris ha r r is on i Schaldach an d long-tongued bat. Jamaica. Forearm 40. McLaughlin, 1960. Banana bat. Known only Caves. 031607. from the states of Colima and Guerrero, Lionycteris spurrelli Thomas, 1913. Spurrell's Mexico. Forearm 41-43. 032401. long-tongued bat. Panama and northern Carollia castanea H. Allen, 1890. Bicolored South America, east to Guyana. Forearm short-tailed fruit bat, Costa Rica through 36. 031701. Panama to northern and western Colombia. Anoura cultrata Handley, 1960. Panamanian Forearm 36-42, Large colonies; rock long-tongued bat. Known only from Pana­ fissures, hollow trees. 032501. ma. Forearm 43. 031801. •carollia perspicillata (Linnaeus), 1758. Tri­ Anoura geoffroyi Gray, 1838. Tailless long­ colored short-tailed fruit bat. Probably tongued bat. Mexico to Peru and Brazil, the whole tropical and subtropical of including Trinidad. Forearm 40-47. Small South and Central America, the Lesser colonies; caves. 031802. and perhaps Greater Antilles. Forearm 38 CHECKLIST OF NORTH AMERICAN BATS

40-45. Large colonies; caves, foliage, Vampyrodes caraccioli (Thomas), 1889. White­ hollow trees, buildings, mines, wells, lined tailless bat. Guatemala to northern drains, sewers, etc. 032502. South America, including Trinidad, Fore­ Carollia subrufa Hahn, 1905. Red short-tailed arm 48-51. Small colonies; foliage. fruit bat. Western Mexico to Colombia 033101. and Venezuela. Forearm 38-42. 032503. Vampyressa nymphaea Thomas, 1909. Big Sturnira lilium (Geo ff r o y), 1810. Yellow­ yellow-eared bat, Panama south to Colom­ shouldered bat. Southern Mexico south to bia. Forearm 36. 033201. Peru and northern Argentina and Para­ vampyressa pusilla (Wagner). 1843. Little guay, including Trinidad. Forearm 40-44. yellow-eared bat. British Honduras south Small colonies; caves, hollow trees, build­ to southern Peru and Brazil. Forearm ings. 032601. 31-33. _033202. Sturnira ludovici Anthony, 1924. Anthony's Chiroderma salvini Dobson, 18 78. Salvin 's yellow-shouldered bat. Southern Mexico white-lined bat. Honduras south to Colom­ to northern South America (Colombia, bia and Ecuador. Forearm 51. 033301. Venezuela, Ecuador). Forearm 45. 032602. C hiroderma trinitatum Goodwin, 1958. Lesser Sturnira tildae de la Torre, 1959. Trinidadian white-lined bat. Panama to Trinidad. Fore­ yellow-shouldered bat. Trinidad, and arm 38-40. Small colonies; caves. 033302. probably northeastern South America. Forearm 45-46. 032603. Chiroderma villosum Peters, 1860. Greater Sturnirops mordax Goodwin, 1938. Hairy­ white-lined bat. Mexico to northern South footed bat. Known only from type locality America, including Trinidad. Forearm 45-48. at El Sauce, Peralta, Cartago, Costa Rica. Small colonies; caves, hollow trees. 032701. 033303. Brachyphylla cavernarum Gray, 1834, St. Vin­ Ectophylla alba H. Allen, 1892. Honduran white cent fruit-eating bat. Antilles (St. Vincent, bat, Costa Rica to Panama. Forearm 25. Barbuda, and Puerto Rico). Forearm 61. Solitary; foliage. 033401. Large colonies; caves and caverns. Ectophylla macconnelli (Thomas), 1901. Little 032801. yellow-faced bat, Panama to Trinidad. Brachyphylla minor Miller, 1913. Barbados Forearm 29-33. Solitary; foliage. 033402. fruit-eating bat. Barbados. Forearm 61. Artibeus aztecus Andersen, 1906. Aztec fruit­ 032802. eating bat. Mexico to Panama. 033501. Brachyphylla nana Miller, 1902. Cuban fruit­ Artibeus cinereus (Gervais), 1855 (1856). Pig­ eating bat. Cuba. Forearm 60. 032803. my fruit-eating bat. Mexico to Peru, Boliv­ Brachyphylla pumila Miller, 1918, Haitian ia, and central Brazil, including Trinidad. fruit-eating bat, Hispaniola. 032804. Forearm 37-47. Small colonies; foliage. *Uroderma bilobatum Peters, 1866. Tent­ 033502. making bat. Mexico to Peru, Boliva, and Artibeus hirsutus Andersen, 1906. Hairy, fruit- central Brazil, including Trinidad. Fore­ eating bat. States of Michoacan, Colima, arm 40-43. Small colonies; undersides of and Jalisco, Mexico. Forearm 54-60. leaves of certain palm trees. 032901. 033503. Vampyrops heller! Peters, 1866. Heller's • Artibeus jamaicensis Leach, 1821. Jamaican broad-nosed bat. Mexico south to northern fruit-eating bat. Mexico to northern South South America, including Trinidad. Fore­ America, including Greater and Lesser arm 38-40. Small colonies; caves, foliage, Antilles. Forearm 56-66. Medium-sized hollow trees, buildings. 033001. colonies; caves, foliage, hollow trees, Vampyrops vittatus (Peters), 1859. Peter's buildings. 033504. greater white-lined bat, Costa Rica to Artibeus inopinatus Davis and Carter, 1964. northern Colombia and Venezuela. Fore­ Honduran fruit-eating bat. Nicaragua and arm 58. 033002. Honduras. Forearm 52. 033505. CHECKLIST OF NORTH AMERICAN BATS 39

• Artibeus lituratus (Olfers), 1818. Big fruit­ Centuria ~Gray, 1842. Wrinkle-faced bat. eating bat. Mexico south to Peru, Bolivia, Known from Mexico to Panama and on the northern Argentina, Paraguay, and south­ islands of Trinidad and Tobago. Probably ern Brazil, including the islands of Trini­ occurs across northern South America. dad, Grenada, and St. Vincent. Forearm Forearm 41-44. Solitary or small col­ 64-76. Medium-sized colonies; caves, fo­ onies; foliage. 034201. liage, hollow trees, buildings. 033506. Ametrida centurio Gray, 1847. Gray's wrinkle­ Artibeus .!!!!!Y§ Andersen, 1906. Dwarf fruit­ faced bat. Northern South America, includ­ eating bat. Sinaloa, Mexico, south to ing Trinidad. Forearm 25-34. 034301. Costa Rica. Forearm 36-37. 033507. Erophylla bombifrons (Miller), 1899. Brown Artibeus toltecus (Saussure), 1860. Toltec flower bat. Puerto Rico and Hispaniola. fruit-eating bat. Mexico to Panama. Forearm 48. Caves. 034401. 033508. Erophylla sezekorni (Gundlach), 1861 . Buffy Artibeus turpis Andersen, 1906. Teapa fruit­ flower bat. Cuba, Jamaica, Bahama Is­ eating bat. Mexico to Panama. Forearm lands. Forearm 47-49. Large colonies; 40. 033509. caves. 034402. Enchisthenes hartii (Thomas), 1892. Little Phyllonycteris aphylla (Miller), 1898, Jamai­ fruit-eating bat. Mexico south to northern can flower bat. Jamaica. Forearm 48. South America, including Trinidad. Fore­ 034501 . arm 37-38. 033601. Phyllonycteris major Anthony, 1917. Puerto Ardops annectans Miller, 1913. Guadeloupe Rican flower bat. Puerto Rico (known tree bat. Guadeloupe, Lesser Antilles. from skeletal remains only), 034502. Forearm 48-49. 033701. Phyllonycteris obtusa Miller, 1929. Haitian Ardops luciae (Miller), 1902. St. Lucia tree flower bat. Haiti (known from skeletal re­ bat. St. Lucia, Lesser Antilles. Forearm mains only). 034503. 47. 033702. Phyllonycteris poeyi Gundlach, 1861. Cuban Ardops montserratensis (Thom a s), 1894. flower bat. Cuba. Forearm 40. Large Montserrat tree bat. Montserrat, Lesser colonies; caves. 034504. Antilles. Forearm 51. Under branches of trees. 033703. Family DESMODIDAE Ardops nichollsi (Thomas), 1891. Dominican tree bat. Dominica, Lesser Antilles. Fore­ *Des modus rotund us (E. Geoffroy-Saint­ arm 44. 033704. Hillaire), 1810. Vampire bat. Mexico south Phyllops falcatus (Gray), 1839. Cuban fig­ to northern Chile, Argentina, and Uruguay. eating bat. Cuba. Forearm 42. 033801. Forearm 60-63. Small to large colonies; Phyllops haitiensis (J. A. Allen), 1908. Hai­ caves, hollow trees, buildings, culverts, tian fig-eating bat. Hispaniola. Forearm mines, wells, drains, sewers, bridges, 39. 033802. etc. 040101. Ariteus flavescens (Gray), 1831. Jamaican *Diaemus youngi (Jentink), 1893. White-winged fig-eating bat. Jamaica. Forearm 40. vampire bat. Panama to Venezuela, Trini­ 033901. dad, and the Guianas, south to Peru and Stenoderma rufum Desmarest, 1820. Red fig­ southern Brazil. Forearm 50-52. Medium­ eating bat. Known from skeletal remains sized colonies; caves, hollow trees. in Puerto Rico, and specimens ta.ken on 040201. St. John and St. Thomas Islands, Virgin *Diphylla ecaudata Spix, 1823. Hairy-legged Islands. Forearm 47. 034001. vampire bat. Mexico south to northern Pygoderma bilabiatum (Wagner), 1843. Ipa­ South America. Forearm 54-55. Small nema bat. Mexico south to Paraguay and to medium-sized colonies; caves, hollow southern Brazil. Forearm 38. 034101. trees, mines. 040301. 40 CHECKLIST OF NORTH AMERICAN BATS

Family NAT ALIDAE Family VESPERTILIONIDAE

Natalus brevimanus Miller, 1898. Providence Myotis albescens (E. Geoffroy-Saint-Hillaire), long-legged bat. Known only from Old 1806. Paraguayan myotis. Nicaragua south Providence Island off coast of Nicaragua. throughout most of South America north Forearm 31-33. 050101. of the Rio Colorado. Forearm 35-37, Natalus lepidus (Gervais), 1837. Gracefullong­ 080101. legged bat. Cuba and the Bahama Islands. Myotis argentatus Dalquest and Hall, 194 7. Forearm 27-30. 050102. Silver-haired myotis. Known only from Natalus ~ (Miller), 1914. Cuban long­ type locality in Vera Cruz, Mexico. Fore­ legged bat. Cuba. Forearm 32. 050103. arm 33. Insect hole in dead upright stub. Na talus major Miller, 1902. Large funnel­ 080102. eared bat. Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola. • Myotis austroriparius (Rhoads), 1897. South­ Forearm 42. 050104. eastern my o tis. Southeastern United Natalus micropus Dobson, 1880. Jamaican States, north to southern Indiana and long-legged bat. Jamaica. Forearm 32-34. Illinois; west to Arkansas and Louisiana. 050105. Forearm 36-41. Very large colonies; *Natalus stramineus Gray, 1838. Lesser caves. 080103. funnel-eared bat. Baja California, Sonora, *Myotis californicus (Audubon and Bachman), and Tamaulipas south to Panama; Islands 1842. California myotis. Western North of the Lesser Antilles; and eastern Brazil. America, from central British Columbia Forearm 35-39. Medium-sized colonies; to central Mexico. Forearm 29-36. Soli­ caves. 050106. tary or small colonies: caves, rock fis­ Natalus tumidifrons (Miller), 1903. Bahaman sures, foliage, buildings, mines. 080104. long-legged bat. Bahama Islands. Forearm Myotis chiloensis (Waterhouse), 1838. South 32. 050107. American myotis. Western South America Na talus tumidirostris Miller, 1902. Greater from Panama to Tierra del Fuego. Fore­ funnel-eared bat. Curasao, Colombia, arm 37-40. Caves. 080105. Venez uela, and Trinidad. Forearm 39-41. *Myotis evotis (H. Allen), 1864. Long-eared 050108. myotis. Western North America, from British Columbia south to central Mexico. Forearm 35-41. Solitary or small col­ Family FURIPTERIDAE onies; foliage, buildings. 080106. Myotis fortidens Miller and G. M. Allen, 1928. Furipterus horrens (F. Cuvier), 1828. Thumb­ Cinnamon myotis. Sinaloa, south to Tabas­ less bat, Panama and northern South co, Mexico. Forearm 36-39. Small col­ America, including Trinidad. Forearm 31. onies; buildings. 080107. Small colonies; caves. 060101. *Myotis grisescens A. H. Howell, 1909. Gray myotis. Southern Indiana and Illinois, south to Tennessee, Georgia, and northern Flo­ Family THYROPTERIDAE rida; west to Missouri and Arkansas. Forearm 41-46. Very large colonies; Thyroptera disc if er a (Lichtenstein and caves. 1080108. Peters), 1854. Honduran disk-winged bat. Myotis keenii (Merriam), 1895. Keen's myotis. Honduras and Nicaragua. Forearm 31. North America, from northwestern Wash­ Solitary or small colonies. 070101. ington to northern British Columbia, and Thyroptera tricolor Spix, 1823. Brazilian disk­ from Manitoba east to Newfoundland; south winged bat. British Honduras south to Peru in the east to Florida. Forearm 35-39. and central Brazil. Forearm 32-38. Soli­ Solitary to medium-sized colonies; caves, tary or small colonies; curled banana or rock fissures, hollow trees, buildings. heliconia leaves. 070102. 080109. CHECKLIST OF NOR TH AMERICAN BATS 41

•Myotis lucifugus (Le Conte), 1831. Little *Myotis volans (H. Allen), 1866. Long-legged brown myotis. Labrador to Alaska, and myotis. Western North America, from as far south in the United States as northern British Columbia to central Georgia and southern California. Forearm Mexico. Forearm 35-41. Solitary. 080120. 34-41. Summer, solitary or small col­ *Myotis yumanensis (H. Allen), 1864. Yuma onies; winter, very large colonies; caves, myotis. Western North America, from rock fissures, hollow trees and branches, British Columbia to the states of Michoa­ buildings, bridges, culverts, mines, wells, d.n and Hidalgo, Mexico. Forearm 32-38. drains, sewers, etc. 080110. Solitary to large colonies; caves, build­ Myotis milleri Elliot, 1903. Miller's myotis. ings. 080121. Northern Baja California. Forearm 34-37. Pizonyx vivesi (Menegaux), 1901. Fish-eating 080111. bat. Islands and coast of Gulf of California. *Myotis nigricans (Schinz), 1821. Little black Forearm 59-62. Solitary or small col­ myotis. Mexico, south to Peru, northern onies; sea caves, rock fissures. 080201. Argentina, and southern Brazil, including *Lasionycteris noctivagans (Le Conte), 1831. Trinidad. Forearm 32-39. So Ii tar y to Silver-haired bat. Most of the United States medium-sized colonies; caves and cavi­ and the southern part of Canada. Forearm ties, rock fissures, hollow trees, build­ 41. Solitary to very large colonies; hollow ings, bridges, culverts, mines, wells, trees and branches, under loose bark, drains, sewers, etc. 080112. buildings. 080301. Myotis occultus Hollister, 1909. Arizona myo­ *Pipistrellus hesperus (H. Allen), 1864. West­ tis. Southwestern United States and north­ ern pipistrelle. Western United States, western Mexico. Forearm 33-41. 080113. south into central Mexico. Forearm 30. Myotis planiceps Baker, 1955. Flat-headed Solitary to medium-sized colonies; rock myotis. Known only from type locality in fissures. 080401. Coahuila, Mexico. Forearm 26. 080114. • Pipistrellus subflavus (F. Cuvier), Myotis simus Thomas, 1901. Flat-nosed myo­ 1832. Eastern pipistrelle. tis. Panama to northern South America. Eastern United States Forearm 36-39. 080115. and southern Canada, south to Honduras. Forearm 33. Solitary Myotis sodalis Miller and G. M. Allen, 1928. to medium-sized colonies; caves and cavities, Indiana myotis. Eastern United States. rock fis­ sures. 080402. Forearm 36-41. Very large colonies; caves. 080116. Eptesicus albigularis (Peters), 18 72. Peters' Myotis subulatus (Say), 1823. Small-footed brown bat. Southern Mexico and Honduras. myotis. Ranges across the United States Forearm 40-42. 080501. from the Atlantic to the Pacific; north into *Eptesicus brasiliensis (Desmerest), 1819. Canada in the east and west, and south Brazilian brown bat. Mexico south to into northern Mexico in the west. Forearm Argentina. Forearm 39-42. 080502. 31-36. Solitary or small colonies; caves, Eptesicus chiriquinsis Thomas, 1920. Chiriqui rock fissures, buildings, mines. 080117. brown bat. Known only from Panama. Myotis thysaoodes Miller, 1897. Fringed myo­ 080503. tis. Western North America, from south­ *Eptesicus fuscus (Palisot de Beauvais), 1796. ern British Columbia to southern Mexico. Big brown bat. Canada to Panama; also Forearm 40-46. Small colonies; caves, occurs in the Bahama Islands and Greater buildings. 080118. Antilles. Forearm 42-45. Solitary or small *Myotis vellfer (J. A. Allen), 1890. Cave colonies; caves and cavities, hollow trees, myotis. Southwestern United States, south buildings. 080504. to Guatemala. Forearm 36-47. Very large Eptesicus innoxius (Gervais), 1841. Harmless colonies; caves, buildings, bridges, cul­ brown bat. Panama to Ecuador and Peru. verts, mines. 080119. Forearm 37-38. 080505. 42 CHECKLIST OF NORTH AMERICAN BATS

Eptesicus melanopterus (Jentink), 1904. Black­ *Nycticeius humeralis (Rafinesque), 1818. winged brown bat. Northeastern Brazil and Evening bat. Southeastern United States the Guianas, including Tobago. Forearm and northeastern Mexico. Forearm 34-39. 39-40. 080506. Solitary or small colonies; rock fissures, • Lasiurus borealis (Miller), 1776. Red bat. hollow trees, buildings. 080702. Southern Canada south to Chile, Argentina, Rhogeessa gracilis Miller, 1897. Slender yel­ and Uruguay; occurs on the Greater An­ low bat. Southern Mexico, Forearm 30-33. tilles and in Trinidad. Forearm 37-43. 080801. Solitary; foliage. 080601. Rhogeessa parvula H. Allen, 1866. Little Lasiurus castaneus Handley, 1960. Panama yellow bat, Mexico, south to northern ---"hairy-tailed bat. Known only from Panama. South America, including Trinidad. Fore­ Forearm 45. 080602. arm 26-33. Large colonies; foliage, hollow *Lasiurus cinereus (Palisot de Beauvois), trees and limbs, buildings. 080802. 1796. Hoary bat. Canada south to Chile, *Rhogeessa tumida H. Allen, 1866, Allen's Paraguay, and Argentina. Forearm 46-55. little yellow bat. Mexico to Colombia, Solitary; foliage. 080603. Venezuela, and Trinidad. Forearm 28-33. Lasiurus degelidus Miller, 1931. Jamaican Large colonies; foliage, hollow trees and hairy-tailed bat. Jamaica. Forearm 45. limbs, buildings. 080803. 080604. Baeodon alleni (Thomas), 1892. Allen's bae­ • Lasiurus floridanus (Miller), 1902. Florida odon. Known from the Mexican states of yellow bat. Coastal Virginia to Florid.: and Jalisco and Oaxaca. Forearm 35. 080901. along the Gulf of Mexico to eastern Texas. Euderma maculatum (J. A. Allen), 1891. Spotted Forearm 49. Solitary; foliage. 080605. bat. Western United States. Forearm 51. Lasiurus ega (Gervais), 1855 (1856). Southern 081001. yellow bat. Southern California south to Plecotus phyllotis (G. M. Allen), 1916. Allen's Peru and Brazil, including Trinidad. Fore­ big-eared bat. Arizona south to central arm 40-46. Solitary; foliage. 080606. Mexico. Forearm 44-46. 081101. Lasiurus egregius (Peters), 18 70. South American yellow bat. Known only from Plecotus rafinesquii (Le s s on), 1827. Ra­ Armila, San Blas, Panama, and Santa finesque 's big-eared bat. Southeastern Catarina, Brazil. 080607. United States. Forearm 40-46. Solitary to *Lasiurus intermedius H. Allen, 1862. Large medium-sized colonies; caves, hollow yellow bat. Southeastern Texas south to trees, buildings. 081102. Yucatan and the Island of Cuba. Forearm • Plecotus townsendil Cooper, 1837. Town­ 45-55. Solitary; folliage. 080608. send's big-eared bat. Central eastern Lasiurus minor Miller, 1931. Small hairy­ United States west to British Columbia and tailedbat":- Bahama Islands and Haiti. south to central Mexico. Forearm 39-44. 080609. Medium-sized colonies; caves, buildings. Lasiurus pfeifferi (Gundlach), 1861. Pfeiffer's 081103. hairy-tailed bat. Cuba. Forearm 42-45. Antrozous dubiaquercus Van Gelder, 1959. 080610. Tres Marias pallid bat. Maria Magdalena *Lasiurus seminolus (Rhoads), 1895. Seminole Island, and probably Maria Madre Island, bat. Southeastern United States and north­ Nayarit, Mexico. Forearm 54-55. 081201. eastern Mexico. Forearm 37-42. Solitary; Antrozous koopmani Orr and Taboada, 1960. foliage. 080611. Koopman's pallid bat. Western Cuba. Lasiurus semotus (H. Allen), 1890. Hawaiian Known from a single skull. 081202. bat. Hawaiian Islands. Forearm 49-52, • Antrozous pallidus (Le Conte), 1856. Pallid Solitary; foliage. 080612. bat. Western United States south into Nycticeius cubanus (Gundlach), 1861. Cuban Mexico. Forearm 48-60. Small colonies; evening bat. Cuba. Forearm 29-32. 080701. caves, buildings. 081203. CHECKLIST OF NORTH AMERICAN BATS 43

Family MOLOSSIDAE Eumops bonariensis (Peter's), 1874. Argen­ tinian mastiff bat. Panama south to Bolivia, Molossops greenhalli (Goodwin), 1956. Green­ Paraguay, and Argentina. Forearm 39-49. hall 's dog-faced bat. Known from Mexico 090402. and Trinidad. Forearm 34-37. Medium­ Eumops glaucinus (Wagner), 1843. Gray mas­ sized colonies; hollow branches. 090101. tiff bat. Mexico south to Colombia, Ecua­ •Molossops planirostris (Peters), 1865. Dog­ dor. and Brazil. Also known from southern faced bat. Panama, south into northern Florida, Cuba, and Jamaica. Forearm 58- South America. Forearm 32-35. Houses. 61. Small colonies; buildings. 090403. 090102. Tadarida aurispinosa (Peale), 1848. Tamau­ Eumops maurus (Thomas), 1901. Guianan mas­ tiff bat. Known lipan free-tailed bat. In North America only from Guyana and Quintana known only from the State of Tamaulipas, Roo, Mexico. Forearm 53. 090404. Mexico. Forearm 48-51. Caves. 090201. •Tad arid a brasillensis (I. Geoffroy-Saint­ Eumops perotis Miller. 1906. Greater mastiff Hillaire), 1824. Brazilian free-tailed bat. bat. Southwestern United States, and north­ Southern United States, south to Chile and ern Mexico; Cuba; South America. Fore­ Argentina, including the Greater and Les­ arm 73-80. Solitary or small colonies; ser Antilles and the Bahama Islands. cracks and small holes, particularly in Forearm 37-46. Very large colonies; manmade structures. 090405. caves and cavities, rock fissures, hollow Eumops underwoodi Goodwin, 1940. Under­ trees and branches, bridges, culverts, wood's mastiff bat. Arizona to Costa Rica. mines, wells, drains, sewers, etc. 090202. Forearm 65-71. 090406. Tadarida europs (H. Allen), 1889. South Ameri­ Promops centralis Thomas, 1915. Greater can free-tailed bat. Brazil and Venezuela, ridge-nosed bat. Southern Mexico to Trini­ north to Trinidad. Forearm 40-43. dad. Forearm 54. Small colonies; under Medium-sized colonies; rock fissures. palm leaves. 090501. 090203. Promops nasutus (Spix), 1823. Lesser ridge­ Tadarida femorosacca (Merriam), 1889. Pock­ nosed bat. Trinidad south to northern eted free-tailed bat. Southwestern United Argentina and Paraguay. Forearm 46. States south into Mexico. Forearm 45-49. 090502. 090204. •Molossus ater E. Geoffroy-Saint-Hillaire, Tadarida laticaudata (Geoffroy), 1805. Broad­ 1805. Guianan house bat. Mexico south tailed bat. Known only from Tamaulipas, to Paraguay and northern Argentina, in­ Mexico. Forearm 43-45. Caves. 090205. cluding Trinidad. Forearm 53. Medium­ •Tadarida molossa (Pallas), 1766. Big free­ sized colonies; foliage, hollow trees, tailed bat. Southwestern United States, buildings. 090601. south to southern Peru, Paraguay, and Brazil. Forearm 58-64. Medium-sized Molossus bondae J. A. Allen, 1904. Bonda mas­ to large colonies. 090206. tiff bat. Honduras south to northern South America. •Tadarida yucatanica (Miller), 1902. Yucatan Forearm 39. 090602. free-tailed bat. Mexico to Panama. Fore­ •Molossus coibensis J. A. Allen, 1904. Coiba arm 42-46. 090207. Island mastiff bat. El Salvador to Panama. Mormopterus minutus (Miller), 1899. Little Forearm 34-36. Houses. 090603. goblin bat. Cuba. Forearm 29. 090301. Molossus debilis Miller, 1913, St. Kitts mas­ Eumops abrasus (Temminck), 1827. Tem­ tiff bat. St. Kitts, Lesser Antilles. Fore­ minck 's mastiff bat. Southern Mexico, arm 38, 090604. south to Peru, Bolivia, and southern Bra­ Molossus fortis Miller, 1913. Large mastiff zil. Forearm 56-63. Solitary or small bat. Puerto Rico. Forearm 40. Large colonies; buildings. 090401. colonies; buildings. 090605, 44 CHECKLIST OF NORTH AMERICAN BATS

*Molossus major (Kerr), 1792. Little mastiff Molossus miller! Johnson, 1952. Jamaican bat. Mexico to Argentina and Uruguay, mastiff bat. Jamaica. 090608. including Trinidad. Forearm 38. Large *Molossus sinaloae J. A. Allen, 1906. Sinaloa colonies; foliage, buildings. 090606. mastiff bat. Mexico south to Panama, also Molossus nigricans Miller, 1902. Black mastiff on Trinidad. Forearm 46. 090609. bat. Mexico to Panama. Forearm 53. Attics Molossus tropidorhynchus Gray, 1839. Cuban of houses. 090607. mastiff bat. Cuba. Forearm 32-36. 090610. GLOSSARY OF TERMS 45

Appendix B--GLOSSARY OF TERMS

As interest in bats increased, a special Home range--The geographic area traversed by a bat terminology evolved in bat-banding and homing in its normal daily activities, often restricted to studies. Suggestions toward standardizing this one season of the year. Distinct situations within the home range may include (1) day roost, (2) night terminology and making it consistent with that roost, (3) hibernal roost, (4) watering place, (5) now established in bird banding were made by foraging areas, and (6) alternate or transient forms Mohr (1953). Further standardization of each of these. of terms Homing--The return of a transplant, any time after its was proposed by Cockrum and Davis in 1964 initial release, to a spot presumably within its and was published by R. Davis (1966). The familiar area. Homing following terms seem to meet the needs ability--ln homing experiments, refers to the of return of a transplant to the region of its familiar most of the bat-banding fraternity. area or a specific point therein. Three types are recognized: (1) Travel within the familiar area, perhaps based on recognition of landmarks; (11) Alternate roost-A substirute roost, different from a flight in a certain directiOn, even when crossing known, specific roost used by a bat within its home unfamiliar territory; and (111) choice of approxi­ range. See Home range. mately the correct direction to the familiar area, Altirudinal migration--A seasonal movement to and from even when released in unfamiliar territory, lowlands and mountains. Home experiment--The release of a banded bat at any Colony-An assemblage of bats. point other than the original locality of capture. Day roost-A specific place where a bat stays during There are two types: (A) Transplant is released daylight hours. within its familiar area; and (8) transplant is re­ Delayed recovery--The retaking of a banded bat during leased outside its familiar area. the winter or summer following the season when Homing performance--ln homing experiments, the be­ it was originally banded, There may be ( 1) delayed havior of a transplant after its release. repeat, (2) delayed vagrant, and (3) delayedforeign Immediate return--ln homing experiments, the re­ recoveries. taking of a banded bat the same day or night as Delayed rerurn--In homing experiments, the retaking of released. a banded bat during the winter or summer following Latitudinal migration--Seasonal north-south movement. the season when it was released. Local migration--A short seasonal movement involving Early recovery--The retaking of a banded batduring the habitat changes associated with seasonal differ­ season in which it was banded. There may be (1) ences. early repeat, (2) early vagrant, and (3) early for­ Longitudinal migration--Seasonal east-west movement. eign recoveries. Maternity colony--An assemblage of bats, primarily Early return-In homing experiments, the retaking of a adult females, which bear and rear young to adult banded bat during the season in which it was size. released. Night roost--A place where a bat stays during part of Fall-transient colony--An assemblage of bats, prima­ the night, rily adult females with young, that occupy a given Randomness--ln homing experiments, this refers to the site for a brief period in the fall. random, radial scattering of transplants from a Familiar area--The total area of the home range release point, with a few returning to the familiar throughout all four seasons. area. It implies the lack of a well-defined homing Foraging area--The general locality where feeding ability. takes place. Recovery--The retaking of a bat previously banded. Foreign recovery--The retaking of a banded bat at This term is specific for bat-banding work. In some point presumably outside its normal home homing experiments, the specific term is Return. range. See Delayed, Early, Foreign, Repeat, and Vagrant Foreign rerurn--ln homing experiments, the retaking of recovery. a banded bat at some point presumably outside its Repeat recovery--The retaking of a banded bat at the familiar area. original point of capture, Hibernal roost--A place occupied by a bat for hiber­ Repeat return--ln homing experiments, the retaking of nation. a banded bat at the point of original capture. Home--A term with broad meaning, roughly equivalent Return--The retaking of a bat previously banded and to familiar area. Home refers to the point of origi­ released at a distance from its point of original nal capture only when used with quotation marks, capture. See Delayed, Early, Foreign, Immediate, e.~. "home" roost. Repeat, and Vagrant return; Transplant. 46 GLOSSARY OF TERMS

Roost--A specific place where a bat stays, within its Transplant--ln horning experiments, a banded home range. See Alternate, Day, Hibernal, bat that Night, has been removed from its point of original capture and Transient roost. and released. Seasonal rnigration--A r egular seasonal movement Watering place--A place where bats drink. between the area where the young are born and the Winter colony--An assemblage of batsduringthewinter area where the winter is spent. months, Spring-transient including males and females, young and colony-An assemblage of bats that old, which may or may occupy a given not be in hibernation. site for a brief period in the spring. Vagrant recovery--The retaking Summer-male colony--An of a banded bat at some assemblage of bats, prima­ point other than that of its original rily adult males and usually capture, pre­ small in number, that sumably within its normal home range. occupy scattered localities throughout the range of Vagrant return--ln the species. horning experiments, the retaking of a banded bat at some point other than that of its Transient roost--A roost utilized by bats during migra­ tion, original capture, presumably within its familiar in an area intermediate between the summer area. and winter ranges. ~ Horne range. SPECIAL EQUIPMENT 47

Appendix C--SPECIAL EQUIPMENT

Colored bands available for bat band sizes 0 - IA and 2 - 3. They are specially made by: Colored bands have proved useful for differentiating seasons, years, localities, and Roger N. MacDonald sexes of bats. In Europe, aluminum and Monel 850 Main Street metal bands may be colored; some English in­ Lynnfield. Massachusetts 01940 vestigators have used numbered colored cellu­ loid split-ring bands. Linsky and Casebeer (1962) banded bats in Costa Rica with stainless Mist nets steel bands, trimmed and prefitted in the field and colored red and green to designate locali­ Mist nets are available ties. Bat handers in the United from the follow­ States have used ing suppliers: various methods for coloring aluminum bands, including the use of lipstick, nail palish, liquid E. A. Bergstrom shoe dyes, ink, biological stains. and a process Northeastern Bird Banding Association of anodizing. These methods are described by 3 7 Old Brook Road w. H. Davis (1963!). Haarr (1963). and Haught West Hartford. Connecticut 06117 (1963). Satisfactory anodizing has been pro­ vided by the following: Bleitz Wildlife Foundation The Aluminum Finishing Company 5334 Hollywood Boulevard 569 Park Avenue Hollywood. California 90027 Bridgeport, Connecticut 06604 Mac's Plating Works Mrs. Elinor E. Dater 3138 Southwest Boulevard Eastern Bird Banding Association Tulsa. Oklahoma 74107 Box 111 Ramsey, New Jersey 07446 Special pliers W. B. Davis The Kennard pliers used by bird handers, 712 Mary Lake Drive with a set-screw for regulating the closing. are Bryan, Texas 77803 48 NOTES

U.I . GOYllNMINT rlltnlNG otr1c1 : .... 0-111-•11 As the Nation's principal conservation agency, the Depan­ ment of the Interior has basic responsibilities for water, fish, wildlife, mineral, land, park, and recreational re­ sources. Indian and Territorial affairs are other major concerns or America's "Department of Nntural Resources. The Depanment works to assure the wisest choice in managing all our resources so each will make ics full contribution to a better United States -- now and in the future.

UNITED STATES OE'PAATMENT 0,. THE INT£RIOR l'"ISH ANO WILOLll'E SERVICE BUREAU Of" SPORT FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE WASHINGTON 0 C 202•0