Westward expansion of the Evening Bat (Nycticeius humeralis) into Dawson and Lincoln counties of central Nebraska

Abstract

The Evening Bat (Nycticeius humeralis) is a small, migratory species of temperate woodlands in the eastern United States. Along its western distributional edge in the Great Plains, this species resides in wooded riverine corridors. In recent decades, the distribution of Evening Bats has expanded westward throughout the Great Plains. Herein, we report on two county records that further document the distributional expansion of Evening Bats into central Nebraska. In 2019 and 2022, Evening Bats were collected in Lincoln and Dawson counties, respectively, in woodlands adjacent to the Platte River. Increases in wooded habitats along prairie waterways likely has resulted in their westward movements in the Great Plains. With the continued westward expansion, this species should be looked for farther west beyond known distributional limits along prairie waterways throughout the Great Plains.