Disturbances

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Canyon bat (formerly western pipistrelle) (Parastrellus hesperus)
Family:Vespertilionidae

In AZ, Cross (1965) identified over 70 individual roosts in cracks and rock crevices of large cliffs for P. hesperus.  Similar cliff structures across western CO's canyon country probably provide the majority of roosts for this species within the state.  Roosts may be changed on a daily basis (Cross 1965) which should provide protection for the species against disturbances occurring at a specific location such as recreational climbing.  Large scale surface disturbances that could potentially impact long stretches of canyons, such as water impoundment, may remove the network of alternate roosts used by an individual and impact the population on a modest scale.  However, such disturbances currently rarely occur in CO and develop slowly affording individuals time to relocate.