y

EVALUATION OF SELECTED

BAT HABITAT SITES ALONG

THE MAMMOTH-NORRIS GRAND LOOP

ROAD CORRIDOR,

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK,

WYOMING, 1997-1998

Prepared for the

Montana Natural Heritage Program,

The Nature Conservancy,

By Sam Martinez

U\\ * •- s

599.4
-N11ESBH
1999
1

fl> tX Cofl -« '

Montana State Library

3 0864 1004 7166 6

INTRODUCTION

Numerous sites along the Norris Junction-Mammoth Junction road were evaluated for bat use during the
summer season in 1997 and 1998. All known case sites were checked and special attention was given to water
bodies near the road since these areas are known to draw bats from the surrounding region for feeding and
interaction. A total of 33 sites were studied ranging from a known maternity pit cave site to a cold alpine pond.
The primarj objective was to identify and document bat presence and activity along the corridor affected by
reconstruction of the Grand Loop Road between Norris and Mammoth. Information gathered from field activities
would be used to make sound management decisions on protecting the available resources and reducing the
impact of construction activities on future projects of this type.

Figures 1 through 6 identify the locations of each site studied on a portion of the USGS topographic-
quadrangle and Table 2 is a lisimg of the latitude and longitude readings from either the topo map or from GPS
instrument readings taken in the field. Although care was taken to get as much information as possible, a wide
variety of habitat settings were tested to provide the clearest picture of overall bat activity in the study area.

METHODS

Bat occurrence and identity were determined in open areas and in probable roost sites located within the
road corridor using traditional and low impact methods. Mist netting and subsequent in-hand identification of
captured bats was attempted at one or two sites each night, although weather conditions on some nights
prevented deployment of the nets. Known caves and other likely roost sites were visited and examined for
evidence of bat use and suitability. For three of the caves in the Mammoth area, vertical rope techniques were
employed to safely enter the pit entrances of natural caves. For confined spaces in areas where poison gas might
be encountered, a gas monitor was used to detect oxygen deficiency and the presence of methane or explosive
gases.

For a greater number of sites an ANABAT ultrasonic bat detector (Titley Electronics; Ballina, Australia)
was used in conjunction with a Titley Delay Switch and cassette recorder to monitor and record bat activity
during the nighttime hours. These electronic sensors can successfully record ultrasonic calls over a wide band
of frequencies from 20 to 180 kHz without producing any sound of their own and are undetectable by bats.
Many bat species can be identified from their recorded calls on the basis of known characteristics and call
structures revealed from analysis of the audio recordings. Analysis of the recordings took place at the Montana
Natural Heritage office in Helena using an IBM compatible personal computer with ANABAT II zero crossings
analysis interface module and software

RESULTS

Bats of six different species were identified from calls recorded by the Titley Electronics' ANABAT set-
up. Table 3 lists those species and their common names. Numerous undifferentiated Myotis were detected but
could not be identified to species with certainty because of poor call quality or insufficient duration. Because
of the similarity of all Myotis spp. calls, they often cannot be distinguished from each other by analysis of the
calls alone, I wo ol the identified bat species are of special concern, Townsend's big-eared bat, Corynorhinus
towruendii, and the fringed myotis, Myotis thysanodes.

Table 1 lists the results of from each site and provides a summary of numbers of calls during each hour
time period from dusk until dawn.

Devils Kitchen: This is a known maternity site for bats in the Mammoth area Historically, it is well known
for Townsend's big-eared bats, hut it also provides roosting for other species in an area where a variety of bat
species have been captured and recorded.

On September 27, 1997, a descent was made into the cave to document bat activit) and environmental
conditions. A partial SUTVe) was made to record the dimensions and identity rOOSting areas important to bats
observed at that time. Approximately 86 feel of passage were surveyed with about 40 more feet left to be

included.

Five Corynorhinus townsendii were observed on the ceiling of the cave, 25 or 30 feet above the floor
of the passage. One was at the NW end of the entrance room and the other four were near the eastern extreme
of the cave, in a dome area about 28 feet high. Our proximity did not disturb them and although they were
aware of our presence they did not become agitated.

Ambient temperatures in the cave were quite warm. At the bottom of the entrance drop T^ Bulb equalled
77°F and TWel Bulb was 65°F. Toward the east end of the cave, near the floor, the temperature was much warmer
and the air seemed stuffy. More of the bats were in this area of the cave and some packrat litter was scattered
across the passage floor. Measurements at this end of the cave found T^ Bulb was 83°F and TWet Bulb was 72°F.
Air monitoring for oxygen depletion found no bad air anywhere in the cave.

Two hot spring pools are located in the floor of the cave about 9 feet apart. Their temperatures were
warm and both had thick crusts of calcite raft deposits floating on the water surface. The eastern pool measured
7'/2 feet long and up to 3 feet wide, at 94.2°F. The western pool was at about the same water level, measuring
about 3'/2 feet long by \lA feet wide, at 85°F. No bubbling was observed in either pool.

ANABAT recordings outside the entrance identified four bat species in the vicinity. These included
Corynorhinus townsendii, Eptesicus fuscus, Lasionycteris noctivagans, and some undifferentiated Myotis spp.

Pinion Terrace site: Jeweled Cave and the other large cave here were monitored for bat activity without success.
Interior examination of these and the other small caves on Pinion Terrace found a few traces of bat guano but
no large colonies. One Myotis spp. bat was observed in the crack-like cave near the edge of the terrace. Due
to the vertical nature of this cave, a close examination of the bat could not be made.

All the caves on this terrace have normal interior temperatures. Thermal activity at this level on Terrace
Mountain has been dormant for hundreds of years. Air quality is also excellent.

Mammoth Hot Spring Reservoir, Joffe and Africa Lakes: The area around these small lakes had more bat activity
than any other. These small ponds offer an excellent foraging area and also provide open water free of hot
spring discharges. These ponds present the closest large, open stretches of water to the rocky cliffs in Glen
Creek canyon and the caves and shelters of the upper Mammoth Hot Springs terraces. Five cr more species of
bat were detected here, including Corynorhinus townsendii, Eptesicus fuscus, Lasiurus cinereus, Lasionycteris
noctivagans, and one possible Myotis thysanodes. Two of these species, C. townsendii and M. thysanodes, are
species needing special management consideration because of intolerance to disturbance and declining population.
Myotis thysanodes may also have been recorded at other sites, however, most species of Myotis are difficult to
distinguish from their calls. Many of the sites sampled had calls identified as Myotis spp. because a definitive
identification could not be made.

Indian Creek Campground Bridge: Thirty-eight Myotis calls were recorded here on 12 Aug, 1997, along with
seven other unidentified calls. Sample sites both up and down stream of the bridge (sites 12 and 14) recorded
no calls.

Willow Flats at Moose Exhibit: A large number of bats were observed feeding over the river here. Eptesicus
fuscus were identified, but most were undifferentiated Myotis spp. making multiple passes through the meadow.

The rest of the sites produced few or no recorded calls, as can be seen from Table 1 . In many cases,
site characteristics were similar or the same as those found at the very active sites. Weather conditions on some
nights may have suppressed activity. On September 5 in particular, moderate rain and high winds lasting all
night filled the recording tape with storm noise and probably prevented bats from leaving their roosts. Additional
monitoring would prove valuable in obtaining an accurate assessment of bat use through the summer season.

DISCUSSION

Visual inspection of known caves and analysis of ANABAT recordings revealed that bats were not
evenly distributed along the road corridor and that they were more likely to be found close to historic structures
and in areas known to contain established roost sites. Only one cave site, Devil's Kitchen, contained more than
one or two bats. Five were observed and a few more were suspected. The most productive recording sites were
found at lower elevations, near Mammoth, and may have reflected the greater abundance of preferred roost sites
in those areas.

Summarizing the detection results from all sites, bats were detected at 19 (55.9%) locations, with data
unavailable for one additional site. Fourteen sites (41.2%) had no bat detections. ANABAT instruments
detected few bats around water bodies near active hot springs or in the Norris area. Reasons for the lack of bat
activity are not known. Moths and other flying insects were observed at all the sample sites. This aspect of bat
distribution needs more study to understand why bats are selectively avoiding certain areas. It is unlikely that
all species avoid thermal areas, since there is a well known colony site in a very active thermal area south of
Norris Junction.

The Hoodoo area in particular was disappointing for its lack of recorded activity. This location should
have produced numerous bat calls because of the large number of small caves and roosting spots available.
Weather conditions spoiled the opportunity to record bat activity and there was insufficient time available to
repeat the sampling. Other sites were skipped or dropped because of time or equipment limitations in favor of
covering the most territory within the area of interest.

Previous bat studies in the Park have involved visual observation of flying individuals or hand counts
of known colonies. These methods impose severe limitations and require an unreasonable commitment of time
and manpower. Employing the ANABAT instrument with recording capability greatly increases the efficiency
and productivity of the scientific effort and produces reliable data over a large geographic area with a modest
investment of time and physical effort.

Sam Martinez

Montana Natural Heritage Program

1515 East 6th Avenue

Helena. Montana 59620

voice: (406)444-0917

FAX: (406)444-5612

e-mail: samm@state.mt.us

»t . . -•*.

TABLE 1

ANABAT SURVEY RESULTS

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK - GRAND LOOP ROAD CORRIDOR

#

Site

Date

Species'"

Hourly Group Starting Time/Individuals

2
0
0
0

2
1
0
0

2
2
0
0

2
3
0
0

0
0
0
0

0
1
0
0

0

2
0
0

0
3
0
0

0
4
0
0

0

5
0
0

Site
Totals

1

"Africa Lake" - Mammoth
Junction

13Aug97

EPFU

1

1

LAC1

1

1

MYSP

35

113

148

UNKN

3

20

23

38

135

173

2

Devils's Kitchen (Portal)

12Aug97

COTO

1

5

6

EPFU

4

5

2

11

LANO

6

33

1

40

MYSP

1

5

5

11

UNKN

10

4

14

11

54

I?

82

5Sept98

None

6Sept98

COTO

1

1

MYSP

2

1

1

1

5

UNKN

1

1

2

3

1

1

1

2

8

3

Pinion Terrace site

13Aug97

None

4

Grand Loop Road near trail
head to upper terraces

20Aug98

EPFU

1

9

1

1

3

15

MYSP

5

4

5

2

2

6

24

UNKN

2

1

1

1

5

1

14

6

5

3

1

1

3

6

4

44

5

"Africa Lake", below Grand
Loop Road and above
Mammoth Hot Springs
water supply reservoir

20Aug98

EPFU

11

5

16

LACI

1

1

LANO

1

1

MYSP

14

1

1

1

1

2

2

22

UNKN

3

3

13

22

1

1

1

1

2

2

43

6

Mammoth Hot Spring water
supply reservoir

6Sept98

EPFU

1

1

LANO

1

2

3

MYSP

10

48

:

1

61

TABLE 1

W \B.\T SURVEY RESULTS

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK - GRAND LOOP ROAD CORRIDOR

1

Site

Date

Species'"

Hourly Group Starting Time/Individuals

2
0
0
0

2
1
0
0

2
2
0
0

2
3
1)
(1

0

0

0

0

0

1

0
0

0
2
0

0

0
3

(i
0

0
4
1
1

0
5

0
0

Site
Totals

I'NKN

t

7

11

15

58

2

1

76

Joffe Lake

dSepl'IS

COTO

1 '•''

1

BPFU

2

3

10

9

()

1

31

[ \M I

4

1

5

MYSP

5

9

:

3

3

1

3

26

MYTH

1

1

I'NKN

:

6

7

2

2

1

20

14

19

19

14

11

4

3

84

s

■! -ndoos

5Scpt98

None

')

Upper Hoodoos

5Scpt98

None

11)

Glen Creek Bridge (Culvert)

13Aug97

MYSP

1

I'NKN

3

4

11

Pond located east of Swan
Lake Rats

20Aug98

None

12

Shccpcalcr Cliffs at Gardner
River

20Aug98

None

13

Indian Creek Campground
Bridge

12Aug97

MYSP

II

21

4

2

38

UNKN

2

2

1

2

7

13

23

1

6

2

45

20Aug98

EPFU

1

1

1

1

14

upstrejm of Indian Creek
Campground Bridge

l2Aug97

None

15

Willow Mats at Moose
Exhibit

22Aug98

EPFU

|

I

MYSP

5

27

1

35

I'NKN

-

7

9

7

37

3

47

TABLE 1

ANABAT SURVEY RESULTS

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK - GRAND LOOP ROAD CORRIDOR

#

Site

Date

Species '"

Hourly Group Starting Time/Individuals

2
0
0
0

2
1
0
0

2
2
0
0

2
3
0
0

0
0
0
0

0
1
0
0

0
2
0
0

0
3
0
0

0
4
0
0

0
5
0
0

Site
Totals

16

Lilypad Pond, north end

4Sept98

None

17

Beaver Lake, north end

22Aug98

None

18

Solfatara Trailhead

22Aug98

MYSP

2

2

2

2 '

19

Grizzly Lake Trail transect
(data not available)

■7

?

20

Grizzly Lake Trailhead

4Sept98

None

21

Roaring Mountain - across
Grand Loop Road

22Aug98

EPFU

1

1

1

1

22

North Twin Lake

4Sept98

LANO

1

1

UNKN

1

1

1

1

2

23

South Twin Lake

22Aug98

LANO

5

5

MYEV

2

1

1

1

5

MYSP

3

28

42

6

5

5

3

3

1

96

UNKN

1

5

1

7

3

34

49

7

6

6

4

3

1

113

24

Nymph Lake

21Aug98

None

25

unnamed pond west of
Grand Loop Road, South of
Nymph Lake, 2 miles North
of Norris Junction

21Aug98

None

4Sept98

None?

26

Large unnamed lake East of
the Grand Loop Road,
located north of Norris
Campground - east end

21Aug98

None?

TABLE 1

ANABAT SURVEY RESULTS

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK - GRAND LOOP ROAD CORRIDOR

1

Site

Date

Species'"

Hourly Group Starting Time/Individuals

2
0
0
0

2
1
0
0

2
2
0
0

2
3

0
0

0
0
0
0

0

1

0
0

0
2
0
0

0
3
0
0

0
4
0
0

0
5
0
0

Site
Totals

27

Large unnamed lake East of
the Grnn 1

located north of Noms
Campground - north side

4Sept98

MYSP

1

1

1

1

28

Large unnamed lake East of
the Grand Loop Road,
located north of Norris
Campground - near west end
and west of marsh

4Sept98

None

29

bank of Gibbon River below
Noms Geyser Basin
overlook pullout

4Scpl98

! NKN

1

1

1

1

30

Noms Campground, site
B-43

4Sept98

UNKN

1

1

1

1

?!

Gibbon River Bridge. Grand
Loop Road at Noms
Campground

l3Aug97

None''

:; \ ■!■_■•'■.

UNKN

1

1

:

1

1

2

M

Nuphar Lake - west end

21Aug98

UNKN

1

1

1

1

J3

area between bookstore and
Norm Museum

6Sept98

None

34

Area, on bank of Gibbon
River

• SepWS

MYSP

1

1

I

1

Code* fnc bat ipecie< jjc

Identification not certain

COTO | = | f.miw»:niii VmutndH
EPH. | = | Epltsicus fiucui
LAC1 1=] Lajiurus cintrtus
LANO |=| Lasionyatni noenvaganj
MYEV [ = | Myotti rvortj
MYSP [=| Uyedt spp
MYTH |=| Uyotli IhysanoJri
UNKN |>i unknown

TABLE 2

ANABAT SURVEY SITE LOCATIONS

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK ■ GRAND LOOP ROAD CORRIDOR

#

Site

Date

GPS Rover File

Latitude (N)

Longitude (W)

1

"Africa Lake" - Mammoth Junction

13Aug97

2

Devils's Kitchen (Portal)

12Aug97

5Sept98

R090602A

44°57'56.2"

110°42'41.4"

6Sept98

R090617A

44°57'56.1"

110°42'41.3"

3

Pinion Terrace site

13Aug97

4

Grand Loop Road near trail head to upper terraces

20Aug98

R082101A

44057'31.8"

110°42'45.3"

5

"Africa Lake", below Grand Loop Road and above
Mammoth Hot Springs water supply reservoir

20Aug98

R082101B

44°57'1.7"

110°42'46.8"

6

Mammoth Hot Spring water supply reservoir

6Sept98

R090616A

44°56'55.5"

110°42,15.5"

7

Joffe Lake

6Sept98

R090615A

44°56'53.8"

110°42'3.3"

8

Lower Hoodoos

5Sept98

R090601A

44°56'37.2"

110°42'53.3"

9

Upper Hoodoos

5Sept98

R090600A

44°56'39.3"

110°43'8.3"

10

Glen Creek Bridge (Culvert)

13Aug97

11

Pond located east of Swan Lake Flats

20Aug98

12

Sheepeater Cliffs at Gardner River

20Aug98

R082102A

44°53,30.8"

110°43'45.8"

13

Indian Creek Campground Bridge

12Aug97

20Aug98

R082102B

44°52-56.5"

H0°44,5.4"

14

upstream of Indian Creek Campground Bridge

12Aug97

15

Willow Flats at Moose Exhibit

22Aug98

R082302B

?

7

16

Lilypad Pond, north end

4Sept98

R090515A

44°50'9.1"

110°43'48.8"

17

Beaver Lake, north end

22Aug98

R082302A

44°49'3.3"

H0°43-44.2"

18

Solfatara Trailhead

22Aug98

R082301B

44°48,25.0"

110°44,3.8"

19

Grizzly Lake Trail transect

?

20

Grizzly Lake Trailhead

4Sept98

R090514D

44°47'55.9"

H0°44'44.4"

21

Roaring Mountain - across Grand Loop Road

22Aug98

R082301A

44°46,44.9"

110°44'31.6"

22

North Twin Lake

4Sept98

R090514B

44°46,32.9"

110° 44' 14.6"

23

South Twin Lake

22Aug98

R082300A

44°46'21.2"

110°44'4.9"

24

Nymph Lake

21Aug98

R082200A

44°45,10.2"

110°43-30.5"

25

unnamed pond west of Grand Loop Road, South of
Nymph Lake, 2 miles North of Norris Junction

21Aug98

R082200B

44°44'59.7"

110°42,56.4"

4Sept98

R090514A

44°44'59.7"

110°42'55.9"

26

Large unnamed lake East of the Grand Loop Road,
located north of Norris Campground - east end

21Aug98

R082200C

44°45'3.8"

110c>42,44.2"

27

Large unnamed lake East of the Grand Loop Road,
located north of Norris Campground - north side

4Sept98

R090513A

44°44'38.7"

110°42'30.0"

28

Large unnamed lake East of the Grand Loop Road,
located north of Norris Campground - near west end
and west of marsh

4Sept98

R090513A (part 2)

44°44,36.5"

110°42'14.4"

29

bank of Gibbon River below Norris Geyser Basin
overlook pullout

4Sept98

R090513C

44°44'17.3"

110°42'40.6"

30

Norris Campground, site B-43

4Sept98

R016014A'7

9

1

31

Gibbon River Bridge, Grand Loop Road at Norris
Campground

13Aug97

TABLE 2

ANABAT SURVEY SITE LOCATIONS

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK - GRAND LOOP ROAD CORRIDOR

#

Site

Date

GPS Rover File

Latitude <N)

Longitude (W)

32

Nuphar Lake - west end

21Aug98

R082201A

44°44'18.1"

] 10°4 ] 55.9"

33

area between bookstore and Morris Museum

6Sept98

R090703A

44 43'34.1"

1 10°42-12 4 '

34

Gibbon Meadows Picnic Area, on bank of Gibbon
River

6Sept98

R090702A

44°43'53 8"

!10°4r30.3"

TABLE 3

LIST OF BATS DETECTED IN YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL

PARK"

Scientific Name

Common Name

No. of Sites t21

Corynorhinus townsendii

Townsend's Big-Eared Bat

2 (5.9%)

Eptesicus fuscus

Big Brown Bat

9 (26.5%)

Lasionycteris noctivagans

Silver-Haired Bat

6 (17.6%)

Lasiurus cinereus

Hoary Bat

2 (5.9%)

Myotis evotis

Long-Eared Myotis

1 (2.9%)

Myotis thysanodes

Fringed Myotis

1 (2.9%)

Myotis sp.

unidentified Myotis

13 (38.2%)

Unknown

unidentified bat species

15 (44.1%)

Data from Montana Natural Heritage Program field work, summer 1998.
The number and percentage of sites where this species was detected.

u

sitTo]^' •

4'

">

Site 6

is WO1

i

< i '

/' ---' G

faltf . . ■ ■■■ 'i j» f

Figure 1:

Location Map of ANABAT/Mist Net
Sites 1 through 9,

Yellowstone National Park, 1998

B»ie m«p from USGS 7V4* topographic qiudranjle,
"Mimmolh. Wyoming MotiUru (1<>86 Provmorull"

^)

r*Wr^

Figure 2:

Location Map of ANABAT/Mist Net
Sites 10 through 12,

Yellowstone National Park, 1998

Base map from USGS 714" topographic quadrangle,
"Mammoth, Wyoming-Montana (1986-ProvisionaI)"

Figure 5:

Location Map of ANABAT/Mist Net
Sites 18 through 23,

Yellowstone National Park, 1998

Base m»p from USGS T/i' topographic quadrangle. *Obtiduui
Cliff, Uvoming (1986-ProvmotuuV