Tyson Research Center has records of endangered bat species on its property since the late 1970s. In 2018, we began partnering with Vona Kuczynska (US Fish & Wildlife Service) and Shelly Colatskie (Missouri Department of Conservation) to survey bats in a variety of habitats across Tyson. We use a combination of passive acoustic monitoring, visual surveys, and mist-netting surveys to monitor how bat species are distributed around the property across different seasons. In the process we also serve as a testing ground to validate different types of bat monitoring devices and survey designs. Our long term goal is to guide restoration activities aimed at improving bat habitats and support the recovery of threatened and endangered species.
A cluster of hibernating gray (Myotis grisescens) and Indiana (Myotis sodalis) bats found during one of our winter cave surveys. Photo credit: Erin O’Connell