April 22nd

Staked out the area surrounding the bats roost starting a hour before dark (the night of the 21st). Between 8pm and 9pm (on the 21st) the signal changed tone and intensity frequently. This may indicate that the bat left the roost and was feeding or the transmitters antenna may have been blowing in the wind. I'd guess feeding, weather was ok and there were insects flying.

Rain moved in shortly after and a long cold stake out ensued. The signal changed strength occasionally, but that was weather associated. Frequent shaking of the antenna was needed to keep water buildup from interfering with reception. Snow coated the high stakeout stations and when I traveled back from the low valley point several sections of road was underwater.

Heck of a situation

Snowy base camp

A winter wonderland.

That afternoon we hiked back out to the roost area and found the bat to still be in the same tree. I gently pulled the antenna and the bat squeaked at me immediately, indicating that even with day temps in the low 50's it was not using torpor. Keeping body temp up for fetal development? Your guess is as good as mine......

Crossing the stream looked like it was going to be one heck of a task, but we got lucky and a fallen tree gave us a convenient bridge. I managed to take pictures from the log without dropping anything (camera, receiver, antenna, lens cap) into the water. The roost tree is about 500 feet from this point.

Our little friends roost.

A more stereotypical roost, (large diameter, broken-off, hollow tree) 50 feet or so from the used tree. The line running right to left in the background is the stream.

 

Views of the hillside the roost is located on from the far side of the stream, taken while hiking out from the roost site.

Trapping the night of the 22nd (Saturday) has been slow. Cold wet weather leading to a catch of zero at 2am and no activity. Looks like it's going to start snowing soon. We've been checking on our transmittered friend from time to time and she's shown no sign of movement.

Groundwater dripping down the plastic and into the traps has become a issue. Shut down traps at 3:15, we will need to do more work on the rain guard tomorrow. Construction of a good rain/drip guard was thwarted by Easter Sunday store closures, couldn't get Plexiglas. Rigged a temporary fix, we will build a better one Monday.