Post-hibernation Movement and Foraging Habitat of a 
Male Indiana Bat, Myotis sodalis 
(Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae), in Western Virginia 
Christopher S. Hobson 1 
Department of Biology, Tennessee Technological University 
Cookeville, Tennessee 38505 
AND 
J. Nathaniel Holland 2 
Division of Life Sciences, Ferrum College 
F err urn, Virginia 24088 
ABSTRACT — We investigated departure patterns of bats from a 
hibernaculum and use of tree roosts and foraging habitat by a male 
Indiana bat {Myotis sodalis ) in western Virginia with radio-telem- 
etric techniques, cave population surveys, and habitat assessment. 
Although hibernating Indiana bats are well documented in Virginia, 
our study is the first to report foraging and roosting habitat in Virginia, 
which is along the eastern periphery of the range of the species. 
After departure from the hibernaculum in late April, a radio-tagged 
male M. sodalis moved 16 km southwest where it remained for 
two weeks until the radio transmitter failed. This bat used a ma- 
ture, live, shagbark hickory {Carya ovata) tree as a diurnal roost; 
up to 10 other bats roosted in the same tree. The bat primarily 
foraged among tree canopies within 625-ha area of an 80-year-old, 
oak-hickory forest. Our study suggests that male M. sodalis use 
foraging areas and tree roosts found in the area of hibernacula. 
Thus, we recommend that conservation efforts protect and manage 
foraging and tree roosting habitat in the vicinity of M. sodalis hibernacula. 
Approximately 85% of all Indiana bats {Myotis sodalis Miller 
and Allen) hibernate in seven caves located in Missouri, Indiana, and 
Kentucky (Harvey 1992). Indiana bats are most common in the Midwest, 
with peripheral populations in northeastern (e.g., Pennsylvania), Atlantic 
(e.g., Virginia), southeastern (e.g., Georgia), and northern midwestern 
(e.g., Michigan) states (Humphrey 1978). Peripheral populations may 
become increasingly important in the management of this federally 
1 Present Address: Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage, 
1500 East Main Street, Suite 312, Richmond, Virginia 23219. 
2 Present Address: Department of Biology, University of Miami, P.O. Box 249118, Coral 
Gables, Florida 33124-0421. 
Brimleyana 23:95-101, December 1995 
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