Urban Roosts: Use of Buildings by Florida Bonneted Bats
Elysia N. Webb, Holly K. Ober, Elizabeth C. Braun de Torrez, Jeffery A. Gore, and Ricardo Zambrano
Abstract
Florida Bonneted Bats, Eumops floridanus, were first documented in Miami, Florida, USA, in the 1930s. We summarized reports of these bats in the greater Miami area throughout the past 80 years and documented new roosts by radio-tracking bats captured in semi-natural areas. Florida Bonneted Bats in Miami consistently roosted in buildings, in contrast to other portions of the species’ range where they use trees and bat houses. Throughout the past 60 years, reports of building use have been confined to a small (40 km2) portion of the city. Bats regularly selected buildings with architectural similarities (Mediterranean Revival style; characterized by stucco exteriors, open chimneys with integrated arch covers, and clay tile roofs). To ensure adequate conservation measures are taken to minimize harm to this federally endangered species in urban areas, we outline four topics in need of additional research and suggest four topics that should be covered through targeted educational campaigns.
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Featured Image: Florida Bonneted Bat (Eumops floridanus), image by Shalana.gray Wikimedia Commons CC-BY-SA 4.0.
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