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Knowledge of roost selection by northern yellow bats (Lasiurus intermedius) is limited to a small number of known roost locations. Yet knowledge of basic life history is fundamental to understanding past response to anthropogenic change and to predict how species will respond to future environmental change. Therefore, we examined male northern yellow bat roost selection on 2 Georgia, USA, barrier islands with different disturbance histories. Sapelo Island has a history of extensive disturbance and is dominated by pine (Pinus spp.) forests; Little Saint Simons Island has a limited disturbance history with maritime oak (Quercus spp.) forest as the dominant cover type. From March–July 2012 and 2013, we radio‐tracked 35 adult male northern yellow bats to diurnal roosts and modeled roost characteristics at the plot and landscape scales. We located 387 roosts, of which 95% were in Spanish moss (Tillandsia usneoides) hanging in hardwood trees. On both islands, bats selected roost trees with larger diameters than surrounding trees and selected roost locations with greater open flight space (i.e., low midstory clutter) underneath. Roosts were located farther from open areas on Sapelo and closer to fresh water on Little Saint Simons compared to random locations. Lower availability of hardwood forest on Sapelo may have resulted in small‐scale roost site selection (i.e., plot level) despite potential increased costs of commuting to water and open areas for foraging. In contrast, greater availability of hardwood forest on Little Saint Simons likely allowed selection of roosts closer to fresh water, which provides foraging and drinking opportunities. Our results indicate that mature hardwood trees in areas with low midstory clutter are important in male northern yellow bat roost selection, but landscape‐level features have varying influences on roost selection, likely as a result of differences in disturbance history. Therefore, management will differ depending on the landscape context. Further research is needed to examine roost selection by females, which may have different habitat requirements. © 2020 The Wildlife Society. Mature hardwood trees in areas with low midstory clutter are important in male northern yellow bat roost selection at the plot level, but landscape‐level features have varying influences on roost selection. Management to provide suitable roosting habitat for male northern yellow bats should be tailored to specific landscape conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Myotis septentrionalis (Northern Long-eared Bat) and Myotis lucifugus (Little Brown Bat) are 2 species of North American bat that currently are experiencing extreme population declines because of white-nose syndrome (WNS). The state of Georgia lies at the southeastern tip of both of these species' reported ranges, though current records are sparse. Previously, Little Brown Bats had been recorded in only 5 Georgia counties and Northern Long-eared Bats in 9 counties. New records provided herein expand the known range to 20 and 23 counties, respectively. This information greatly increases our knowledge of the ranges of these 2 at-risk species and can help biologists and managers better understand overall population changes as WNS continues to spread. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]