Migratory and winter activity of bats in Yellowstone National Park

Bats in Yellowstone National Park exhibit unique migratory and winter activity patterns, persisting through extreme cold. Research using radiotracking and acoustic detectors revealed that several bat species—including big brown bats, little brown myotis, and western small-footed myotis—remained active even after the first snowfall in October. While hibernation onset could not be precisely determined, spring emergence occurred in April despite lingering winter conditions. This study sheds light on the adaptive strategies of Rocky Mountain bat populations, contrasting with known behaviors in eastern North America and highlighting gaps in understanding seasonal transitions among these species.

Johnson, J. S., Treanor, J. J., Lacki, M. J., Baker, M. D., Falxa, G. A., Dodd, L. E., Waag, A. G., & Lee, E. H. (2016). Migratory and winter activity of bats in Yellowstone National Park. Journal of Mammalogy, gyw175. https://doi.org/10.1093/jmammal/gyw175