Cumberlands Habitat Conservation Plan

In 2008, Copperhead completed a radiotelemetry study to characterize the fall roosting habitat of the endangered Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis) near Royal Blue and Sundquist Wildlife Management Areas of northern Tennessee. Designed to collect baseline biological data for the Cumberlands Habitat Conservation Plan, this project involved the capture of Indiana bats at a nearby hibernacula. During this time, radio-transmitters were attached to 10 of 28 male Indiana bats captured. Subsequent radiotelemetry efforts resulted in the location and characterization of six Indiana bat roost trees.

Copperhead returned in 2009 in an effort to track Indiana bats during spring emergence and migration. Spring is a dynamic time for bats and their movements are notoriously difficult to document during this period. Trapping efforts (n = 11 trap nights) conducted at known Indiana bat hibernacula located within the project footprint resulted in the capture of 509 bats of six species, including 34 Indiana bats, 3 gray bats (M. grisescens), and 1 small-footed bat (M. leibii). Of these, a total of three female Indiana bats was fitted with radiotransmitters and released. Logistical constraints limited the amount of data collected from focal bats. However, telemetry searches (from the air and ground) documented the migratory movements of transmittered bats and resulted in the location of three roost areas and one roost tree.

Copperhead plans on returning for another round of radiotelemetry during the spring of 2010 - stay tuned.

This project utilized the following services:
NEPA/ESA/Reg, Bat Survey