The Use of Bird Bands on Bats

Abstract

The banding of bats in the United States began in a very small way in 1916 with bird bands. By the end of 1951, according to a survey by Mohr (1953), an estimated 67,403 bats had been banded in North America. In the last four years, 1952–55, bat banding has rapidly expanded. The Fish and Wildlife Service, which supplies bands for the continent, reports that for this period 92,844 bands were issued, over 36,000 in 1955 alone. Whereas the earlier banders were concerned chiefly with such aspects of the natural history of bats as their normal movements, longevity, and homing ability, the recent realization that various species of bats in the United States can transmit rabies has brought about large-scale banding operations by governmental agencies (Courter, 1954). In view of the large numbers of bats now being banded and the importance of the work to public health because of the rabies factor, it seems appropriate to consider the wisdom of continuing the use of ordinary bird bands on bats. It is not surprising that the simple aluminum band designed to be tightly closed about the scaled leg of a bird has not proved altogether satisfactory on the bat, for the bat's appendage is covered with delicate flesh and is complicated by the wing membrane, which must extend between the partially closed ends of the band. Bats are generally banded on the arm (Trapido and Crowe, 1946), though some of the first workers placed the band on the leg. In either position the band's sharp metal edges, …