Tri-colored Bat Roost Tree Use and Movement Patterns Following White-nose Syndrome in Western Kentucky

The tri-colored bat Perimyotis subflavus is undergoing severe declines across its range due to white nose syndrome. Our objective was to determine distinguishing characteristics of roost trees used by tri-colored bats so that their roost needs can be considered in management plans. We attached a radio transmitter to adult bats. We tracked six bats to their day roosts for 1-12 days. Habitat data were collected at 19 roost trees and at randomly selected trees within the distance traveled by a bat to its roosts for comparison. Our initial data showed that tri-colored bats use roost trees within a relatively small area. The greatest distance moved between successive roosts was 207.8 m, with an average distance between roosts of 68.9 m. Bats remained within 2.5 km of their original capture site. All roosting bats were located in the foliage of live trees. Tri-colored bats appeared to not select roost trees at random. There was a correlation between tree use and increasing canopy depth. Bats were observed roosting in 10 different species of tree, with the most commonly selected species being mockernut hickory (Carya tomentosa) and sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua; 37% and 16% of roost trees, respectively). In contrast, the most abundant species among the randomly-selected trees were the white oak (Quercus alba) and the sugar maple (Acer saccharum; 20% and 13% of randomly selected trees, respectively; n=365). Management needs of tri-colored bats likely differ from those of other declining bat species (e.g., Myotis sps.) which have preference for trees in mid-decay stages