We propose to use a combined acoustic and mist-netting survey effort to ascertain the presence absence and whole-year day-roost and foraging status of the endangered northern long-eared BAT (myotis…

This Cooperative Agreement award from the U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service under the Endangered Species Recovery Implementation program (CFDA 15.657) provides $299,666.67 to Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University (Virginia Tech) to conduct a multi-year study on the presence, absence, and seasonal activity of the endangered northern long-eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis) and the proposed-for-listing tricolor bat (Perimyotis subflavus) at Camp Shelby, Mississippi and the Louisiana ANG Training Center-Pineville. The key objectives are to: 1) use acoustic surveys over a full calendar year to determine seasonal presence and activity patterns of the two bat species, 2) conduct mist-netting and radio-tagging to track day-roost use during the dormant and maternity seasons, and 3) create fine-scale habitat occupancy maps to inform installation-specific management for Endangered Species Act compliance. The project aims to produce peer-reviewed publications on the species' roosting and foraging behavior, as well as a commander's guide on best management practices. The award period begins on August 1, 2024 and is scheduled for completion by April 30, 2029.

We propose to use a combined acoustic and mist-netting survey effort to ascertain the presence absence and whole-year day-roost and foraging status of the endangered northern long-eared BAT (myotis septentrionalis) and the proposed for listing tricolor BAT (perimyotis subflavus) at camp shelby, mississippi and louisiana ANG training center-pineville. Our objectives are to: 1) use acoustic surveys over an entire calendar year in a variety of upland and bottomland hardwood forests to determine the presence absence of the two BAT species and the seasonality of presence and relative activity, 2) conduct focal mist-netting following acoustics to catch and radio-tag bats of both species to track to and describe day-roost conditions in the dormant season and the late spring-early summer maternity season, and 3) create fine-scale probabilistic day-roost and foraging habitat occupancy maps to inform installation range and stewardship management for ESA compliance. We foresee peer reviewed publications on day-roost use by maternity and dormant season by species, acoustic-based foraging habitat and activity by season, and installation-specific commander manager s guide to best management practices for the bats. Owing to the unique nature of potential