Foraging behavior and habitat use of red bats in mixed mesophytic forests of the Cumberland Plateau, Kentucky

Abstract

Although the red bat (Lasiurus borealis) is a common forest-dwelling bat, limited information is available on the foraging requirements and habitat use of this species. We radiotracked red bats on the Cumberland Plateau in eastern Kentucky during July and August 1996, and May, July and August 1997. We estimated size of foraging areas and evaluated use of habitats available within foraging areas. We placed transmitters on 10 females and nine males. Size of foraging areas ranged from 113 to 850 hectares for females, and 134 to 925 hectares for males; however, most radiotagged males moved considerable distances among nights and changed foraging areas frequently. Size of foraging areas and commuting distance varied temporally, with bats exhibiting slightly larger foraging areas and longer commuting distances in late summer compared to early summer. The maximum distance bats were recorded foraging away from the day roost ranged from 1.2 to 5.5 kilometers for females, and 1.4 to 7.4 kilometers for males. Red bats were located in non-forested habitats and aquatic habitats at proportions slightly higher than the availability of these habitats. The red bat appears to be a generalist species that can tolerate a range of habitat conditions, foraging temporally and spatially over many habitats.

Parent Publication

• 12th Central Hardwood Forest Conference

Citation

Hutchinson, Jeffrey T.; Lack, Michael J. 1999. Foraging behavior and habitat use of red bats in mixed mesophytic  forests of the Cumberland Plateau, Kentucky. In: Stringer, Jeffrey W.; Loftis, David L., eds. 1999. Proceedings, 12th central hardwood forest conference; 1999 February 28-March 1-2; Lexington, KY. Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS-24. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Research Station. 293 p