A Survey of Florida Bat Species Feeding at Highway Rest Areas

Florida is home to 13 species of bats, all of which are insectivorous. As humans immigrated into areas that were previously natural, bats have had to adjust their habits to live alongside us. Bats in Florida are commonly seen foraging for insects attracted to artificial lights. For my thesis, I set up ultrasonic recording equipment at highway rest areas under large streetlights in Martin and Palm Beach County to see how frequently different bat species visited each area. I identified a total of 1598 calls, including 159 calls of rare or endangered species. I found most frequently recorded species at both sites was the Brazilian free-tailed bat (Tadarida brasiliensis), a very common species in South Florida. My other findings suggest that the known rarity and range of some species should be reconsidered. The importance of streetlights to the survival of insectivorous bats certainly deserves additional attention.