Mist Net Hardware and Net Poles


Bat Mist Net Hardware A full range of BCM-supplied gear is currently in use in the United States and abroad at Bat Conservation International training workshops and by numerous local, state, and federal agency biologists and bat-workers.

Bat mist netting basic concepts The type of habitat and landscape can play an important part in determining where to deploy nets or traps and what sizes or configurations of nets and traps will be needed to best sample the area. For instance, nets and traps set along ridge tops will have the best opportunity of intercepting bats as they tend to fly lower in the canopy when crossing ridges. Also, most insectivorous bats will congregate in areas of diverse vegetation presumably because this provides a larger insect prey base. Netting and trapping in a vegetational mono-culture will often prove unproductive. If forest canopies are very high, then stacked nets or canopy nets may need to be deployed in order to catch high-flying bats. A very diverse habitat should be sampled equally among different topographical, vegetative, and resource types. The site characteristics may dictate capture method choice. Capture of bats at roosts vs. while freely moving about their habitats should be considered carefully. Though far easier to capture at roosts, or when leaving a roost, excessive capture attempts at a roost may cause bats to abandon roost sites. When bats are intercepted in their habitats, careful consideration should be placed on the effort realistically able to be exerted vs. the capture success. In these cases, capture techniques should be concentrated where bats are funneled into small areas or concentrated by localized food and/or water resources. Finally, be aware of capture biases. No single capture method is suitable for all species of bats. Mist nets and harp traps are used most commonly, because they are easily deployed and suitable in a variety of situations. Several other capture methods, however, will enhance capture success in special situations. Basic bat mist net equipment It is important to assemble all necessary equipment for capturing bats well in advance of fieldwork. This may include assembling different sizes of nets and arranging for the necessary ropes, poles, stakes, anchors, and other gear for assembling and hoisting nets into position. For harp traps, extra parts and hand tools for making emergency repairs should be assembled. It is also advisable to include extra lengths of main-line cord for repairing nets that get damaged by bats or flying squirrels (or other unintended captures). Finally, assemble all data-recording materials including data sheets, pens, pencils, scales, weigh bags, bat holding bags, species identification key(s) and electronics suitable for acoustic surveys. Below is the minimum gear BCM uses in each kit bag for standard species inventories.
		Single/Double High Mist Net Poles The basic net setting system. No one goes into the field without a set of 1H poles. No seams when assembled, sturdy enough to beat back brush at a net site. Can run nets up to 2H on these poles with 6 guy ropes and no other hardware.
		Triple High Mist Net System The Triple High Mist Net system lets you build a 24' tall wall of net in about 15 minutes. Our system allows you to vary the shelf distance and apply side tension so the nets hang properly. The entire system can collapse into the included 6' long cave pack for one-person carry out.
		Mist Net Handy Bag Sick of flimsy grocery bags and losing your trammels in ziplocks? WNS protocols take a heavy toll on net handling. This heavy duty fine mesh bag is exclusively made for BCM specifically for storing, washing, and drying mist nets, all while keeping trammel lines fast and easy to get to.
Mist Net Kit Bag Contents
		Handy Rope Essential for use as guy ropes for 1H and 2H net poles. Also for use as the drawstring on the Mist Net Handy Bag. Neon colors for visibility and color coding rope lengths or mist nets. Not too thin that tying off is a pain, but not too thick as to waste space. Perfect.
1- 8' (2.6m) Mist Net 4- 18' (6m) Mist Nets 2- 30' (9m) Mist Nets 4- 42' (12m) Mist Nets 12 tent stakes 4 pitons small rock hammer 12- 12-foot guy ties 2- 25-foot guy ties 12 bat holding bags clothespin ID tags for bat bags (1 for each species) 2 mm rulers and/or calipers 2 digital scales and/or spring scales 2 bat weigh-tubes and/or weigh-bags 1 digital thermometer 1 GPS unit first aid kit/alcohol wipes	1 clipboard (tray style preferred) 4 pens/pencils datasheets laminated ID key(s) 1 heterodyne bat detector 1 kit bag (cave pack) 1 pole bag 6- 1H bottom poles 12- 1H bottom poles duct tape flagging reflector tape extra batteries for electronic gear plastic sleeve for permit(s) net-repair kit (main-line string, black nylon thread, needle)