Bat Population Monitoring and Habitat Assessment in Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument

Project Description: This project aims to document existing bat populations within Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument and to predict species occupancy using survey detections and remotely sensed habitat characteristics. Over the course of the study, the project will track northern long-eared and tricolored bats during key life history periods and, when possible, identify roost locations. It will also assess the health of captured bats, including evaluating potential exposure to white-nose syndrome. The effort will culminate in a final report suitable for the NPS Natural Resource Report series and a public-facing communication product. All published results—excluding any sensitive locations of rare species—will be made freely and publicly accessible.

Project activities include conducting acoustic surveys over three years in areas most likely to experience pressure from visitation and development; capturing and tagging target species for condition assessments and telemetry tracking; performing telemetry surveys to identify roosts and other important habitat features; and analyzing, vetting, and archiving all collected data throughout the project. The project will also develop occupancy models for target species based on acoustic detections, telemetry data, and remotely sensed habitat characteristics.

Lead Principal Investigator: Mr. Josh Guilbert, Biodiversity Research Institute

Partner Institution: Biodiversity Research Institute

Federal Agency: National Park Service

Federal Agency Technical Contact: Dr. Brian Mitchell

Project Type: Research

Project Discipline: Natural Resources

Project Sub-Discipline(s): Biological (Ecology, Fish, Wildlife, Vegetation, T&E)

Start Year: 2025

End Year: 2029

Initial Funding Amount: $58,476.00

Federal Grant Number: P25AC00645

Location: Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument

State(s): Maine

Maine Counties: Penobscot

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