ABSTRACT 



Five species of vespertilionid bat were identified during field surveys on the Kootenai 

 National Forest in July. August, and September 1994. Many of the 54 sites surveyed were within 

 200 m of water (rivers, streams, beaver ponds, marshes), but less than 30% of the sites were 

 actually abutting wetland habitat. Most sites surveyed were in stands of mixed conifers. 



Species identified were Myotis evotis, Lasionycteris noctivagans, Eptesicusfuscus, Lasiurus 

 cinereiis, and Pkcotus townsendii. Most Myotis species cannot be distinguished from one 

 another with bat detectors, the survey tool used in 1994. Unidentified Myotis were detected at 26 

 sites; as many as six species ( M. yumanensis, M. thysanodes, M. lucifugns, M. volans, M. 

 California's, and M. ciliolabrum) may have been present and included in this grouping. Field 

 surveys with mist nets in 1993 revealed the presence of the last four Myotis species on the 

 Kootenai National Forest, as well as M. evotis and Lasionycteris noctivagans. 



Myotis sp. and Eptesiciis fuscus were detected on all six Districts of the Kootenai National 

 Forest in 1994. The other four species were detected on at least three of the six Districts. The 

 Three Rivers District was the only unit where all five identified species of bats were detected, but 

 at least three species were identified on all Districts. 



Combined results from the 1 993 and 1 994 surveys showed the presence of nine species of 

 vespertilionid bat on the Kootenai National Forest. Four species (M evotis, M. lucifugus, 

 Lasionycteris noctivagans, Eptesicus fuscus) have been detected on all Forest Districts. 



Cun-ently. little is known about the reproductive activities of bats on the Kootenai National 

 Forest, but ten species (M yumanensis, M. lucifugus, M. evotis, M. volans, M. californicus, M. 

 ciliolabrum, Lasionycteris noctivagans, Eptesicus fuscus, Lasiurus borealis, and Plecotus 

 townsendii) may breed on Forest Service land. Overwinter occurrence and distribution of bats on 

 the Kootenai National Forest remain virtually unknown. 



