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This project is about more than just collecting data. It is also about building connections between people, science, and conservation. FOH aims to educate and inspire community members to assist with this project as citizen scientists. By engaging the public in citizen science opportunities, hands-on learning, and outreach events, we hope to foster a better understanding and appreciation of bats that will help dispel some of the misconceptions about this vitally important group of mammals. Bats represent the second largest group of mammals globally (rodents are the most diverse) with more than 1,400 species. |
Brazilian Free-tailed Bat from Bryan County, Oklahoma (photo by Bryon Clark) |
Despite their abundance and ecological importance, bats are seldom seen by people and are often misunderstood due to their nocturnal and reclusive nature. Even though over thirty bat species occur in Texas, limited information exists about those inhabiting or flying over HNWR. Based on The Mammals of Texas, Online Edition and personal records, species that may be encountered in Grayson County and on HNWR include: • Previously Reported: Big Brown Bat, Evening Bat, Brazilian Free-tailed Bat, Eastern Red Bat • Likely Present: Hoary Bat, Silver-haired Bat, Seminole Bat, Tricolored Bat • Possibly Present: Rafinesque’s Big-eared Bat, Southeastern Myotis, Cave Myotis • Rare but Documented Nearby: Northern Long-eared Bat, Little Brown Bat
This project has the potential to fill in knowledge gaps and increase public awareness of the vital role bats play in the environment. For example, the Northern Long-eared Bat, Tricolored Bat, and Little Brown Bat, have suffered dramatic population declines across the United States, primarily due to white-nose syndrome, habitat loss, and habitat degradation. Data will be shared with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department that will assist in management decisions and conservation planning. This project will contribute to ongoing conservation efforts to protect these and other bat species for future generations. FOH volunteers will use two types of bioacoustic monitors (commonly referred to as bat detectors) to survey for the presence of bat species on HNWR. Although bats make audible sounds that humans can hear, bat detectors record the ultrasonic echolocation calls of bats that humans cannot hear. Given the nocturnal habits of bats, these monitors can record the presence of bats that may otherwise go unnoticed. The Song Meter Mini Bat 2 detector will be set in place for four consecutive nights and passively record bat calls from dusk until dawn each day in suitable habitats across the refuge. These recordings can then be processed using software that identifies the species by its distinctive ultrasonic calls. An Echo Meter Touch 2 Pro detector will be used for real-time identification of bat species while volunteers are conducting fieldwork. This device connects to a “smart phone” and uses an app to identify the species of bat. In addition to bioacoustic monitoring, trained volunteers will use mist nets to safely capture and examine bats at several locations on HNWR. Data collected will include species identification, sex, reproductive status, weight, and various body measurements. Each bat will be photographed and promptly released, with efforts made to reduce handling time and stress. |
Song Meter Mini Bat 2 (Wildlife Acoustics, Inc.) and a mist net (photos by Bryon Clark). |
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The simultaneous use of the two types of bat detectors and mist netting will improve the accuracy and confidence of our conclusions about bats found on the refuge. The identification of a mist netted bat will be compared to its identification from the bioacoustic recordings for the same time period. This will potentially provide a three-way validation of the bat and help differentiate spectrograms of the various species. With the rapid growth of the human population in North Texas, it has become increasingly more difficult to find areas with minimal light pollution. This degradation of the natural night sky may influence the behavior and activity patterns of nocturnal mammals, including bats. To establish a baseline of night sky quality and assess for potential changes over time, ambient light levels will be monitored using a light meter during the mist netting surveys for bats on HNWR. Bats may fly many miles each night. To expand the survey area, FOH will seek permission from local landowners to conduct bioacoustic surveys for bats on nearby private lands and provide customized bat reports and ecological insights in return. This community-based science initiative is expected to foster greater public engagement and awareness of local wildlife. The data collected during this project will provide insights into the bats of HNWR and North Texas. Just as important, this initiative will also serve as a catalyst for the Friends to initiate new ways to serve and inspire the public by providing new environmental education activities both on and off the refuge. Stay updated about upcoming events by visiting the Friends of Hagerman Website or following us on Friends of Hagerman Facebook (Facebook account required.) We welcome your involvement—please feel free to contact us if you have any questions. |
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6465 Refuge Road Sherman, TX 75092
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