Most bats were released after data was recorded, though if there 

 was a question of identification, or if the bat was considered 

 unusual for that locality or habitat, the bat was collected to be 

 verified later by a competent authority. 



Site Selection 



The following criteria were used in selecting sites to survey bat 

 distribution and habitat use on the Deerlodge National Forest 

 during the first year of study: 



1 ) location and survey of caves and adits on the Forest 

 was a top priority; 



2 ) representative habitats on the Forest were to be 

 surveyed ; 



3) surveys were to be made throughout the Forest, and; 



4 ) surveys were to be completed within a timeframe 

 dictated by bat behavior: at some time, presumably in 

 September, bats would either hibernate or migrate out 

 of the study area. 



The Forest was divided into three broadly defined zones; the 

 Phillipsburg and Anaconda area, the Boulder and Basin area, and 

 the Butte area. Though habitats throughout the Forest were to be 

 sampled, the highest priority was assigned the Phillipsburg/ 

 Anaconda zone due to the higher number of caves and adits 

 occurring within it, and the greater variety of habitats. 



