Distribution, Conservation and Current Status of the Little Brown Bat(Myotis lucifugus) in Arkansas

Abstract

The little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus) is a common insectivorous bat found across much of North America with the exception of parts of Kansas, Nebraska, and the southern tier of states from Louisiana to southern California. Arkansas represents the southwestern edge of its range in the eastern United States. The Natural Heritage Program state ranking for this species is S3 (Vulnerable) and it is considered an Arkansas Species of Greatest Conservation Need (Anderson 2006). In the northeastern United States, there have been significant declines in little brown bat populations from White Nose Syndrome in this and other bats that hibernate in caves (Frick et al. 2010). Prompted by the threat of White Nose Syndrome, this paper reviews little brown bat distribution, summer ecology, populations, and conservation measures taken to protect winter hibernacula in Arkansas. Recent maps of the distribution of this species indicate it has been found in 29 counties, primarily in the Ouachita and Ozark Mountains (Fokidis et al. 2005, Medlin et al. 2006, Sasse and Saugey 2008, Sealander and Heidt 1990). New records are reported from four counties. Thirty bats were observed in Bennett Cave in Carroll County on May 17, 2005. Two bats were seen in Bat Cave in Marion County on January 16, 2002, though none were present in this cave on surveys of 2007-08 and 2009-10. Three bats were counted in Chalk Mine in Montgomery County on February 25, 2010 but were absent during a survey conducted in the winter of 2010-11. Twenty bats were seen at Coldwater Creek Cave in Baxter County on March 21, 2001 (Figure 1). Additionally, Sealander and Heidt (1990) and subsequent authors overlooked previously published records of museum specimens from Prairie (Sealander 1956), Searcy (McDaniel and Gardner 1977), Sebastian (Sealander 1956), and Sharp Counties (McDaniel and Gardner 1977)(Figure 1). Figure 1. Distribution of the little brown bat in Arkansas. “Stars” indicate new county records or previously published records that were not included in recent analyses of statewide distribution. “Solid circles” indicate historical records from Fokidis et al. 2005, Medlin et al. 2006, Sasse and Saugey 2008, Sealander and Heidt 1990.