Lindsay R. Avilla, Brooke Hines, Charles L. Elliott
Journal of the Kentucky Academy of Science 83 (1-2), 1-9, (22 December 2022) https://doi.org/10.3101/kyac-83-01-02
KEYWORDS: Appalachia, bats, Kentucky, old-growth forest, Lilley Cornett Woods
Bat species associated with the Lilley Cornett Woods Appalachian Ecological Research Station (LCW) were documented over two field seasons. Mist netting was conducted during July 2009 [13 net nights], whereas acoustical monitoring was conducted from May–August 2010, with sampling occurring continuously for 85 nights. A total of 26 individuals, representing 5 species were captured: little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus; n = 11), tricolored bat (Perimyotis subflavus; n = 6), northern long-eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis; n = 6), big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus; n = 2), hoary bat (Lasiurus cinereus; n = 1). There were 34,425 identified echolocation passes identifying 9 different bat species, i.e., tricolored bat, little brown bat, northern long-eared bat, big brown bat, Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis), gray bat (Myotis grisescens), eastern red bat (Lasiurus borealis), eastern small-footed bat (Myotis leibii), and evening bat (Nycticeius humeralis)]. Multiple species detected at LCW have been classified by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) as endangered (Indiana bat and gray bat) and threatened (northern long-eared bat). Since it was first detected, WNS has spread rapidly across North America and is associated with host mortality of >90%. We strongly recommend the Chiropteran community at LCW be resurveyed to assess the impacts of WNS, and that a passive acoustical monitoring program be developed and integrated into the area's long-term management plan.