Eastern Red Bat Responses to Fire during Winter Torpor

Abstract

Prescribed fires are a forest management tool used to improve natural areas for a variety of benefits including increased plant diversity, reduced competition for desired species, decreased fuel loads, and improved wildlife habitat. The post-fire results in landscapes have shown positive benefits for bat populations. However, prescribed fires set in the winter may cause direct mortality of eastern red bat (Lasiurus borealis) populations that use leaf litter for roosting during periods of colder (10 °C to provide eastern red bats with a better chance to passively rewarm and react to an approaching fire.

Keywords

• <i>Lasiurus borealis</i>
• eastern red bat
• prescribed fire
• winter
• torpor
• forest management