Survey of bats in northeastern Alberta /

Abstract

Little is known about the distribution, timing of occurrence, behaviour, and habitat requirements of bats in Alberta. In particular, studies are urgently required in the northeast portion of the province where rapid industrial development is occurring. This information is critical for determining species status and for developing management strategies. To address some of these data deficiencies, a survey was conducted in northeastern Alberta in late June and July in 2001. The specific objectives of the survey were to 1) identify species' occurrences, possible range expansions, and habitat associations, 2) evaluate a standard protocol for bat surveys (Vonhof 2000) and to provide recommendations as to its effectiveness, and 3) provide future direction for bat research in Alberta.