Hawaiʻi Island ʻōpeʻapeʻa transmitter retention, 2018-2021

Hawaiian hoary bats ('ōpe'ape'a; Lasiurus semotus) were captured at 23 sites on Hawaiʻi Island from May 2018 through August 2021. Radio transmitters were affixed to captured bats and, when possible, radio telemetry was used to locate bats in trees or forest stands used for day-roosts. Repeated visits to confirm bat presence were conducted until radio-tagged bats were no longer detected. Of the total 148 captured bats we affixed 131 with radio transmitters and attempted to relocate 127 (38 female; 89 male; 120 adult; 7 juvenile) on subsequent days of tracking. Radio signals were not detected for 36 bats (6 female; 30 male). Of the 91 bats (32 female; 59 male) relocated, males retained transmitters longer than females with a mean low estimate of 9 ± 6 days for males and 6 ± 4 days for females (time from capture to the last day a signal was confirmed). This data file includes data related to dates of capture and subsequent tracking effort, sex and age of captured individuals, and tracking methods.