and mist-netting were selected as methods for ttiis study as no summer 

 roost sites were known in the study area prior tho the study, there 

 are no vampire bats, and visioal counts are limited to a short time 

 after dusk, prior to the time many species in Mcntana emerge from day 

 roosts. 



Species occurrence 



One of the objectives of this study was to document the occuirerce of 

 bat species on the Deer lodge National Forest. There are 14 species 

 of bats in Montana (Thompson 1982). Several of these are not 

 expected to be on or near the Forest due to limited distribution in 

 the state, such as the Spotted bat {Euderma maculatun) and the Pallid 

 bat {Rntrozous pallidus) , both apparently restricted in Montana to 

 the vicinity of the Pryor Mountains south of Billings (Vtorthington 

 and Ross 1990). Most of the species known to inhabit the state, 

 however, could potentially be found on the Forest. Documentation of 

 both general species diversity, as well as the occurrence of species 

 suspected of being relatively uncommon, such as Townsend's big-eared 

 bat (Plecotus townsendli) , is necessary for Forest planning and 

 management, considering the mandates of federal legislation to manage 

 for species diversity, and to maintain viable populations. 



Though an experienced observer can identify many bat species visually 

 by size, shape, and flight characteristics, when light conditions 

 allow, documentaticn was not considered positive for this study 



23 



