Title
Best Management Practices for the Use of Bat Houses in US and Canada--with focus on summer habitat mitigation for Little Brown Myotis, Yuma Myotis, and Big Brown Bat
Author(s)
Susan Holroyd; Cori Lausen; Susan Dulc; Emily de Freitas; Reed Crawford; Joy O'Keefe; Claudia Boothe; Jordi Segers; Jonathan Reichard
Published
2023
Abstract
This guidance document summarizes the best available data on bat houses. Section 1 introduces why this document is needed and Section 2 highlights the issues concerning bat specialists regarding the use of bat houses. Section 3 provides the best management practices for the use of bat houses for the most common building-roosting bats in North America. Section 4 identifies knowledge gaps in our understanding of how to provision artificial roost habitat for bats. Section 5 summarizes reporting, maintenance and monitoring practices, lists states/provinces/territories that have current programs and provides suggestions for those that are without. This document is a current synthesis of the available information on use of bat houses in North America. The review of history and literature provides critical background information on bat energetics, physiology and behaviour that must be considered when designing and erecting artificial roosts and making decisions regarding roosting habitat for building-roosting bats (most applicable to Yuma and Little Brown Myotis, and Big Brown Bat). This material may benefit future researchers and managers and act as a summary resource document. Appendix One (Literature Review) should not be considered simply supplemental but rather it is critical detailed information for understanding the subtleties of managing bats in bat houses. The guidance provided is meant to help any landowner, institution, development proponent or land manager tasked with managing or providing artificial roosting habitat for bat-house using bat species in North America. This document is intended to be a living document, with periodic updates with revisions as on-going research and monitoring fills knowledge gaps.
Full Citation
Holroyd, S., Lausen, C.L., Dulc, S., de Freitas, E., Crawford, R., O’Keefe, J., Boothe, C., Segers, J. and Reichard, J. 2023. Best Management Practices for the Use of Bat Houses in US and Canada -- with focus on summer habitat mitigation for Little Brown Myotis, Yuma Myotis, and Big Brown Bat. Wildlife Conservation Society Canada, produced in cooperation with US Fish and Wildlife Service and Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative for the WNS Conservation and Recovery Working Group. Version (last updated): 20 Sept. 2023. https://doi.org/10.7944/P99K4BF5
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