Negative consequences of forearm bands that are too small for bats.

The article discusses observed injury rates by forearm bands in an enlarged, medium sized insectivorous bat, the Leisler's bat Nyctalus leisleri. A non negligible frequency of 11.2% of bat recaptures which showed problems associated with forearm bands is reported. Most of the recaptured bats did not show any problems with the applied forearm bands. It is assumed that problems were initiated by a sporadic event. Factors such as wing morphology affect the optimal type of forearm band. The wing perforating injury did not negatively influenced the health status of the bats.