Forest thinning creates short‐term roosting opportunities for northern long‐eared bats in central hardwood forests

Abstract Forests in the eastern United States face ecological and economic challenges due to shifting disturbance regimes and the complexities of managing multiple, sometimes conflicting, objectives. Emulating natural disturbances through forest management may help restore ecosystems while providing habitat for wildlife, including the imperiled northern long‐eared bat ( Myotis septentrionalis ). We tracked 69 female northern long‐eared bats to 197 roosts over 6 years (2012–2017) in two managed hardwood forests in south‐central Indiana, USA. We used generalized linear mixed models to identify key site‐ and stand‐level features associated with roost selection and LiDAR data to examine how commercial thinning alters forest structure over time. Northern long‐eared bats selected roosts in forested areas near trails and unimproved roads, at higher elevations, with lower canopy density, and closer to recently harvested regeneration openings than expected. Commercial thinning created favorable canopy density conditions for 11 years post‐harvest. These findings suggest that targeted forest management, including timber harvest, can create short‐term roosting opportunities for northern long‐eared bats. To support bat conservation in central hardwood forests, we recommend maintaining large tracts of mature (>80 years) open forest interspersed with young regenerating patches. Where these conditions do not naturally occur, our results indicate they can be created through timber harvest.