Fourth Annual Summer Mist Net Event

The Fourth Annual MS Bat Working Group (MBWG) Mist Net Event was held in Holmes, Attala and Leake Counties on 6/12/07 ­ 6/14/07. The meeting was hosted by Holmes County State Park and sponsored by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The event was well-attended by 29 MBWG members from 4 southeastern states representing the following organizations/schools:

  • Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP)
  • MS Museum of Natural Science (MMNS)
  • US Fish and Wildlife Service
  • US Forest Service (USFS)
  • US Army Engineer Research and Development Center (USAERDC)
  • University of Southern Mississippi (USM)
  • Choctawhatchee Audubon Society
  • Southeastern Bat Diversity Network
  • Bat Conservation International (BCI)
  • Weyerhaeuser Company
  • The Critter Catcher

The event began with a Bat 101 Workshop with 6 presentations given by 5 presenters regarding basic bat biology and ecology. Mist net surveys were conducted on 2 consecutive nights resulting in 110 bat captures representing 6 species. Ten sites were surveyed; 4 sites on Hillside National Wildlife Refuge [NWR], 1 site on Morgan¹s Brake NWR, and 5 sites on the Natchez Trace Parkway. Among the captures were the Red bat (19 captures), Evening bat (44), Eastern pipistrelle (11), Big brown bat (10), Southeastern myotis (25) and Rafinesque¹s big-eared bat (1). The Rafinesque¹s big-eared bat capture (a species of special concern) represents the first record for this species in Attala County (captured by Wilf and Trousdale et. al.).

During the day on 6/13/07 Lann Wilf, MDWFP, led a field trip for participants to Delta National Forest. Lann discussed his thesis work for his masters which was conducted on the NF and involved intensive surveys for bats. Three roost trees were visited, one of which was occupied by > 60 southeastern myotis. I thoroughly enjoyed this event and want to thank everyone who participated. It was truly a pleasure to spend time with all of the volunteers. I feel that the primary objectives of this event (i.e. collection of bat species diversity data, educational/outreach opportunity, opportunity to make/enhance professional contacts) were met in abundance.

I want to extend a huge thank you to Terri Jacobson, USFWS, for sponsoring the event, participating in pre-event mist netting and organizing the Bat 101 workshop. I would also like to thank Chester Martin, ERDC, for his help in organizing the Bat 101 Workshop and Event and participating in pre-event mist netting and site scouting. I want to thank Mylea Bayless, BCI, for all of her hard work before and during the Event. Kyle Richards, ERDC, helped with pre-event mist netting and Mandy Callender, ERDC, helped with pre-event mist netting and support during the Event. Lann Wilf did a great job of organizing our field trip to Delta NF. Austin Trousdale, USM, and Darren Miller, Weyerhaeuser, also provided support during the Event. Last but not least, I would like to thank all of the presenters, team leaders, and participants for a productive and fun Event.

Alison McCartney
MBWG Vice-Chair