96 
Christopher S. Hobson and J. Nathaniel Holland 
endangered species if larger populations continue to decline. Populations 
of M. sodalis hibernating in Virginia caves typify a peripheral population, 
as they occur on the eastern edge of the range and represent <1% 
of the total estimated population (Dalton 1987). Ten known M. sodalis 
hibernacula occur in Virginia accounting for 2,500 individuals. 
Knowledge of summer foraging areas and roost sites of M. sodalis 
is as important to conservation efforts as identification and protection 
of hibernacula, but the former remain poorly documented (Humphrey 
et al. 1977, Thomson 1982). Most information on summer foraging 
and roosting habitat of M. sodalis comes from the central area of 
the range of the species (i.e., midwestern United States), with an emphasis 
on maternity sites. In Illinois and Indiana, female M. sodalis roost 
in several species of trees including shagbark hickory ( Carya ovata), 
bitternut hickory (C. cordiformis), green ash ( Fraxinus pennsylvanica), 
eastern cottonwood ( Populus deltoides), northern red oak ( Quercus 
rubra), post oak ( Q . stellata), shingle oak (Q. imbricaria), and sycamore 
{Platanus occidentalis) (Humphrey et al. 1977, Gardner et al. 1990, 
Kurta et al. 1993). In addition, Humphrey et al. (1977) identified a 
maternity roost under loose bark of a dead bitternut hickory tree. 
Females and newly volant young M. sodalis forage in riparian habitat, 
along the edge of floodplain forest and within forest canopies (Humphrey 
et al. 1977, Laval et al. 1977); however, roosting and foraging habitats 
of male M. sodalis are less well known. Observations in Missouri 
indicate that males forage along ridges and hillsides around forest 
canopies (Laval et al. 1977). 
Migratory behavior may differ among male and female M. sodalis 
(Hall 1962). Females migrate from hibernacula to maternity sites, whereas 
males either move away from or remain near the hibernacula during 
spring and summer. This suggests that suitable foraging and roosting 
habitat for M. sodalis occurs in the vicinity of some hibernacula. 
Although the distribution and abundance of M. sodalis hibernating 
in Virginia caves has been well documented, no summer roost sites, 
maternity colonies, or summer foraging habitats have been identified 
in the state prior to our study. Our objectives were to determine if 
male M. sodalis wintering in a Virginia cave remained in the vicinity 
of the hibernaculum during spring and summer months, and to charac- 
terize foraging and roosting habitats of male M. sodalis. 
METHODS 
We studied a M. sodalis colony that hibernates in a cave in 
Bath County, Virginia. Bath County is located in a rural area of the 
Appalachian Mountains in western Virginia within the George Washing- 
