Funnel trap as a method for capture migrating bats in Pape, Latvia

We constructed a large funnel trap on the coast of the Baltic Sea on dunes of Pape village, Latvia. The trap has been used during the peak autumn migration of bats in Latvia in August and September. During the period of 2014 – 2020, about 40 thousand bats were captured in the trap, mostly Nathusius’ Pipistrelle Pipistrellus nathusii, about 35 thousand individuals. In migration hotspots of bats, this is suggested method of trapping since large number of bats might be trapped without entangling bats in mist-nets.