Autumn Migration of Myotis septentrionalis in Nebraska: Documentation of Nightly Activity, Migratory Timing, and Distance Using Radio-telemetry

Abstract

Few studies have investigated autumn migration of the northern long-eared myotis (Myotis septentrionalis). We conducted a two-year radio-tracking study of M. septentrionalis in southeastern Nebraska to document migration dates, activity in autumn, and movements to wintering sites. We observed that at least some M. septentrionalis migrate in late October and early November. Prior to migration, cold nights curtailed nighttime volant activity outside of roosts for M. septentrionalis. Two bats in this study did not emerge from their roost tree for seven consecutive nights during a period of colder weather. We monitored one bat leaving our research area on the night of 20 October 2015 and detected it 2.8 h later near a mine 41 km away. This observation likely repre- sents a migratory movement, but more research is needed to have a better understanding of autumn migration in M. septentrionalis.