Monitoring Maternity Colonies of the Endangered Ozark Big-Eared Bat on the Ozark Plateau National Wildlife Refuge Many caves considered essential for the continuing existence of the Ozark big-eared bat in Oklahoma occur on the Ozark Plateau National Wildlife Refuge or are managed cooperatively by the refuge and occur on lands owned by private landowners, other agencies, Tribes, or conservation organizations. Annual monitoring of the bats is necessary to help identify factors that may be impacting the species, and to provide information necessary to adequately assess whether current management efforts are effective. The refuge conducts annual emergent counts at Ozark big-eared bat maternity caves using night vision equipment, infrared lights, and video equipment. Video is later reviewed in slow motion and analyzed to improve our ability to estimate the colony size. #batweek #savethebats Photo Credit: Richard Stark, USFWS Brian Fuller, Fellow (Summer 2014) at Ozark Plateau NWR, and Bill Puckette prepare to assist Refuge staff with an emergence count at an Ozark big-eared bat maternity cave located on the Ozark Plateau NWR. Ozark big-eared bat
Posted on: Fri, 31 Oct 2014 15:45:33 +0000
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