In 1992 and 1993, we surveyed the foraging and feeding activity of bat
species with broadband bat detectors at 2 foliage heights in 4 age cl
asses of northern hardwood and spruce/fir forest stands in While Mount
ain National Forest, New Hampshire and Maine. The association of bat a
ctivity with trails and water bodies and the effect of elevation were
measured. Mist nets, a harp trap, and ultrasonic detectors were used t
o establish species presence. Bat activity was concentrated at trail a
nd water body edges and was uniform within a forest stand at the same
sampling height. Within the forest, bat activity was highest in overma
ture (>119 yr, 35% of mean bat activity/night) hardwood stands and in
regenerating (0-9 yr) stands of both forest types (26% of mean bat act
ivity/night). The majority of bats trapped (56%) were adult male littl
e brown bat (Myotis lucifugus). Our data indicate that a matrix of for
est types and age classes including areas of regeneration (clearcuts a
nd group cuts) and overmature hardwood, in combination with trails and
water bodies, help fulfill the summer habitat requirements of bats in
White Mountain National Forest.