Bat House Use in Central Florida, With Emphasis on Nycticeius humeralis and Tadarida brasiliensis cynocephala

Keywords

bats; bat houses; bats in florida

Abstract

Bat houses and roost sites utilized by Tadarida brasiliensis and Nycticeius humeralis were studied in four central Florida counties. Temperatures were monitored in occupied roosts and in bat houses. It was determined that the presence of bats affects roost temperature. The mean temperature in the bat house that was preferred at the Seminole Community College (SCC) site was above ambient temperature a significantly greater amount of time than mean temperature in the other style houses located at that site. A colony of bats roosting in buildings on the property of SCC was successfully relocated into bat houses located .4 kilometers from the main roost. At another Sanford site (Aikins). a bat house occupied by both species, was moved to a site located 5 miles to the north . During the bat house move, Tadarida did not relocate successfully and left prevolant pups behind. Nycticeius remained at the new site for two months. Bats appear to prefer bat houses and roosts with west or northwest orientations, but have occupied all other orientations.

Date Created

January 1997

https://works.bepress.com/laura-finn/1/download/

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