Autumn Migration of Myotis septentrionalis in Nebraska: Documentation of Fall Activity, Migratory Timing, and Distance Using Radio-telemetry

Authors

Jeremy A. White, University of Nebraska at OmahaFollow
Patricia W. Freeman, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Hans W. Otto, University of ArizonaFollow
Brett R. Andersen, University of Nebraska at KearneyFollow
Jonathan HootmanFollow
Cliff A. Lemen, RetiredFollow

Date of this Version

9-20-2017

Citation

Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences 37 (2017), pp. 40–46
doi: 10.13014/K2RJ4GMS

Comments

Copyright (c) 2017 Jeremy A. White, Patricia W. Freeman, Hans W. Otto, Brett R. Anderson, Jonathan Hootman, & Cliff A. Lemen

Abstract

Abstract.—Few studies have investigated autumn migration of the northern long-eared myotis (Myotis septentrionalis). We conducted a two-year radio-tracking study of M. septentrionalis in southeastern Nebraska to document migration dates, activity in autumn, and movements to wintering sites. We found evidence that M. septentrionalis are migrating as late as October and early November. Prior to migration, cold nights curtail flying times of M. septentrionalis. Two bats in this study did not emerge from their roost trees for seven consecutive nights during a period of colder weather. We monitored one bat leaving our research area on the night of 20 October 2015 and detected it 2.8 h later near a mine 41 km away.