Another Batty Update

I just spoke with Carl, the DEC dude who is heading up this bat survey, and here's the latest scoop from data that are coming in.

Reports are showing lots of Big Brown Bats (Eptesicus fuscus). The theory here is that because these bats have different overwintering strategies, they are doing okay and have so far been unaffected by WNS. It seems that many Big Browns overwinter in man-made structures (attics, barns, etc.) and as such have avoided the contamination in the caves.

They are also picking up lots of Hoary Bats (Lasiurus cinereus), as previously metioned. He didn't mention if Silver-haired (Lasionycteris noctivagans) or Red (Lasiurus borealis) Bats were showing up in the data.

Additionally, they are getting few if any hits of the small myotis, that is to say, the Little Brown Bats (Myotis lucifugus). These are the ones hardest hit in the caves, so this does not come as a surprise.

Amy, Steve and I did another bat survey route on Sunday night down in Indian Lake. Twenty-two miles that route was, along a road that was VERY rocky. We didn't get very many hits, which surprised us since the route had several bodies of water nearby. Again most of our hits occurred closer to human habitation (street lights).

We have one more route to run: Pottersville to Weavertown. Then the equipment will be sent on to the next volunteer on the list.

I'll pass along other data as they come in.