Hibernation behavior of four bat species with differing susceptibility to white-nose syndrome

We implanted passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags into 1,465 bats from nine species outside of hibernacula entrances during fall swarming (September - October) and spring staging (April) from 2016 - 2019. Each cave entrance was surrounded by a 15-meter-long PIT tag cable antenna attached to a PIT tag reader/data-logger (IS1001 Cord Antenna System, Biomark, Inc., Boise, ID) with an external power source. Antennas were arranged to allow bats to pass within one meter of the antenna at any point of the entrance while not restricting bat flight. When PIT tagged bats passed within range of the antenna, the PIT tag reader would record the date, time, and PIT tag number of bats in close proximity to the antenna. Data were then summarized as the number and identity of tagged bats passing through the reader’s sensor field each day.<br>The .xlsx file is divided into three tabs, one for each field site. Each tab has the columns month, date, time, Tag ID, PIT Tag Number, and the associated information for each PIT tag (i.e., bat species, bat sex, and bat band number).