SEASONAL ACTIVITY AND REPRODUCTION IN BATS OF EAST-CENTRAL NEBRASKA

Information on seasonal activity and reproduction is presented for seven species of bats inhabiting east-central Nebraska (Eptesicus fuscus, Myotis septentrionalis, Nycticeius humeralis, Lasionycteris noctivagans, Lasiurus borealis, L. cinereus, and Pipistrellus subflavus). Early and late dates of capture show five species active in the state for longer periods than previously reported. During some years, E. fuscus and M. septentrionalis emerge from winter torpor in March and feed on insects. Some E. fuscus inhabiting a floodplain forest in summer use houses in nearby towns as hibernacula, and year-round use of buildings by E. fuscus is substantial compared to other species of bats. Captures of P. subflavus in May and September are the first records from Nebraska not associated with mines or buildings. New reproductive information includes number of offspring, timing of lactation, and presence of volant young. Lactating females of L. noctivagans provide the first evidence of a reproducing population in Nebraska, and they also confirm that this species is a summer resident of eastern Nebraska