Winter Activity of Bats in Southeastern Nebraska: An Acoustic Study

Authors

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

Date of this Version

Winter 12-28-2014

Document Type

Article

Citation

White JA, Andersen BR, Otto HW, Lemen CA, and Freeman PW. (2014) Winter Activity of Bats in Southeastern Nebraska: An Acoustic Study. Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences and Affiliated Societies, 34, 80–83.

Comments

Copyright (c) 2014 Jeremy A. White, Brett R. Andersen, Hans W. Otto, Cliff A. Lemen, and Patricia W. Freeman.

Abstract

Many North American bats are active outside hibernacula in winter, but no information on winter activity has been reported for Nebraska. We recorded activity of bats during two winters (December-February 2012-2013 and 2013-2014) at one location in southeastern Nebraska with an acoustic detector. Bats were active throughout both winters and temperature at sunset was a good predictor of bat activity. Red bats (Lasiurus borealis) were active at our site in early December but were not recorded later in winter. We suspect these individuals were late migrants to more southern wintering sites. Big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus) were recorded in each month during both winters, but reasons for winter activity at this site were not clear. This study provides baseline data for winter activity of bats in southeastern Nebraska; however, more research is encouraged to gain a better understanding of winter bat activity in Nebraska and other regions of the Great Plains.