Winter roost use by tricolored bats ( Perimyotis subflavus ) in Florida: Habitat preferences and conservation implications

Abstract A comprehensive understanding of winter roost selection is critical for the conservation of tricolored bats ( Perimyotis subflavus ), a species experiencing dramatic population declines from white‐nose syndrome (WNS) and other compounding threats. Roosting requirements vary regionally; bats may have greater flexibility in roost choice in subtropical regions with short, mild winters and abundant prey. From 2021–2024, we examined winter roost selection and movement of tricolored bats across northern Florida, USA, using radio telemetry. We tracked 50 tricolored bats, captured by hand from culverts and small caves or using mist nets. Bats showed greater fidelity to thermally stable roosts such as caves and culverts. Tricolored bats roosting in trees switched roosts frequently, favoring palms, cypress, and large‐leafed deciduous trees and avoided pine trees. Additionally, bats preferred subcanopy trees with Spanish moss and dead foliage. At a broader scale, bats selected areas dominated by palms, cypress, and large‐leafed deciduous trees, and areas with more vertical structure and higher tree species richness. Movement between culverts was rare, but bats occasionally switched between culverts and tree roosts, suggesting limited potential for culvert‐mediated disease transmission. To ensure long‐term persistence of tricolored bat populations in the Southeast, conservation plans should protect and promote a variety of winter roost types. Increasing access to alternative habitats, such as those provided by preferred roost tree species, surrounding forest plots, and suitable culverts, may increase roost availability, reduce vulnerability to WNS, and enhance the species' ability to persist on the landscape. Lastly, the use of multiple roost types in winter requires a comprehensive monitoring plan to account for bats outside of traditional cave hibernacula.