Concordia Bat Project

Using state-of-the-art AudioMoth ultrasonic recorders and custom-built data analysis tools, this project captures and visualizes the hidden world of bat communication. From foraging buzzes to social calls, we’re uncovering patterns in local bat behavior and activity across Moorhead, MN, USA. Our recordings reveal the rhythms of nocturnal life and contribute to understanding species ecology and conservation.

Concordia College in Moorhead is developing a program to engage both its students and Moorhead community members in recording and studying bat echolocation behavior.

Moorhead sits at the intersection of the prairie landscapes of eastern North Dakota and the northern hardwood forests of Minnesota, creating a unique transition zone that supports a surprising diversity of bat species. While little direct research has focused on bats within city limits, surveys from the Minnesota DNR and North Dakota wildlife studies suggest that at least eight to ten species are likely present in the region. These include common aerial insectivores such as the big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus), little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus), and hoary bat (Lasiurus cinereus), as well as migratory species like the silver-haired bat (Lasionycteris noctivagans). This area may also provide seasonal habitat for the federally endangered northern long-eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis), making Moorhead an important part of regional conservation efforts. These species play an essential ecological role by controlling insect populations and serve as indicators of broader environmental health in our prairies, forests, and river corridors.

Bats are a vital part of Moorhead’s riverine and prairie ecosystems, providing natural pest control and serving as key indicators of environmental health. A single bat can consume thousands of insects in a single night, including mosquitos and crop pests common to the Red River Valley. Studying local bat populations can reveal how species distributions are shifting in response to urban development, agricultural pressures, and climate change. By combining acoustic monitoring, species identification, and community science, the Concordia Bat Project seeks to deepen our understanding of these patterns and contribute data to broader conservation efforts across Minnesota and North Dakota.

In recent years, white-nose syndrome (WNS), a fungal disease caused by Pseudogymnoascus destructans, has devastated bat populations across North America. The fungus thrives in cold, damp environments where many species hibernate, disrupting normal torpor cycles and leading to fatal energy loss during winter. The impact has been particularly severe on the little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus), which was once the most common species in Moorhead but has experienced steep declines throughout Minnesota. The smaller size of these bats make them particularly vulnerable to the disease. 

As little brown numbers have dropped, big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus) now appear to be the dominant species in the region, partly because they are less susceptible to the fungus and more adaptable to urban roosting sites. Understanding how WNS reshapes local bat communities is critical, both for developing conservation strategies and for interpreting future shifts in Moorhead’s species composition.