Endangered Bat Monitoring Reports
Sixteen bat species are indigenous to the state of Arkansas. Of these, three taxa are considered endangered (i.e., in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of their range) by both the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. They are Myotis sodalis, Indiana bat; Myotis grisescens, gray bat; and Corynorhinus townsendii ingens, Ozark big-eared bat. All three endangered bat taxa occur primarily in the OzarkMountain region of northwestern and north-central Arkansas, the only area of the state where caves are numerous.
This report covers the 15th year of a study designed primarily to monitor populations of endangered bats at major Arkansas hibernacula and summer caves. Secondary objectives were to attempt to locate additional endangered bat colonies and to obtain additional data concerning the ecology of endangered bat species in the state. Information concerning other non-endangered bat species was also obtained. Studies on distribution, status, and ecology of endangered Arkansas bats have been conducted since 1978. Because the fiscal year ends on 30 June, during the peak of the summer bat monitoring period, data from the remainder of the summer study period (i.e., through September) are also included in this report.
Use the hyperlinks below to view these reports.