Evaluating Burrowing Crayfish Trapping Methods and Bat Species Presence across Wetlands Slated for Mitigation in the Piedmont Region of North Carolina

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Wetlands are critical ecosystems that improve water quality, control flooding, prevent soil erosion, and provide habitat for a diverse array of wildlife, including many species of conservation concern. Bioindicator species are of particular interest to monitor as they indicate the health of the wetland from the quality of water and habitat to its biodiversity. The purpose of this study was to evaluate bat activity as a bioindicator species and burrowing crayfish trapping methods as an understudied species across five wetland sites in the Cape Fear watershed, Guilford County, North Carolina, including two fully restored, two preserved, and one enhanced wetland site. We found a significant difference in bat activity among sites, but no significant results related to burrowing crayfish trapping methods. This research indicates that different types of wetland sites have different levels of bat activity, which varies from species to species. This work highlights that further research is needed on crayfish to determine the best methods to conduct future studies. This study offers insight into the value of protecting these ecosystems and vital data for future conservationists to continue this research.</span>