habitat capability that would reduce a species' existing 

 distribution" (Reel et al. 1989). 



In 1991, the biologist for the Deerlodge National Forest 

 contacted the director of the Montana Natural Heritage Program to 

 discuss the possibility of developing baseline data on the 

 occurrence, distribution, relative density, and habitat use of 

 bats on the Forest. A study was initiated that year, and results 

 were presented in "A Preliminary Survey of the Bats of the 

 Deerlodge National Forest, Montana - 1991" (Butts 1993). 



The study was continued in 1992. The findings of this work are 

 presented here. 



ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 



Field work for this study was performed by Tom Butts with the 

 assistance of Michelle Brown and Jeremy Butts. Dave Center of 

 the Montana Natural Heritage Program provided direction, 

 suggestions, editing of reports, field assistance, equipment, and 

 bat identification. Jina Mariani, Deerlodge National Forest 

 biologist, assisted with logistics and funding through the U.S. 

 Forest Service's challenge cost share program, and made helpful 

 editorial comments on the final report. 



