Determination of Presence and Habitat Suitability for the Indiana Bat (Myotis sodalis) and Gray Bat (Myotis Grisescens) for Portions of the Lower 6.6 Miles of McKee Creek, McGee Creek Drainage and Levee District, Pike County, Illi

摘要

The purpose of this study is to determine the presence and habitat suitability for the Indiana Bat and Gray Bat for portions of the lower 6.6 miles (10.6 km) of McKee Creek; McGee Creek Drainage and Levee District, Pike Co., Ill. Three channel cutoffs are scheduled to be constructed to straiten McKee Creek before it's destination into the Illinois River, in an effort to provide better drainage in the surrounding heavily agriculturalized area. This study involves mist netting for bats inside each of the proposed cutoffs, between each cutoff and collecting localities immediately upstream and immediately downstream of the study area. A number of data were collected in determining habitat suitability, such as characterization of riparian habitat, description of the stream and data generated from live trapping bats. It is not the intention or duty of this report to comment on the possible effects on the local bat fauna by altering the course of McKee Creek. Bat fauna will be discussed in relation to all species captured, however, major emphasis will be placed on the endangered species, Myotis sodalis, captured during this study.