TECHNIQUE OF CAPTURING BATS USING MIST NETS: REVIEW AND ANALYSIS OF EXISTING MODIFICATIONS
Maslov A., Larchanka A.
RJEE Vol. 11 (2). 2026 | DOI: 10.21685/2500-0578-2026-2-1
Abstract | PDF (Rus) | Additional files
Receipt date 13.03.2026 | Publication date 26.06.2026
TECHNIQUES FOR CAPTURING BATS USING MIST NETS: A REVIEW AND ANALYSIS OF EXISTING MODIFICATIONS
A.A. Maslov1, A.I. Larchenko2
1 Institute of Systematics and Ecology of Animals Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia
1 Research Institute of Virology, Federal Research Center for Fundamental and Translational Medicine, Novosibirsk, Russia
2 Scientific and Practical Center for Bioresources of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus for Bioresources, Minsk, Republic of Belarus
1 sibbats@yandex.ru, 2 alexa.lar@mail.ru
Abstract. The mist netting method is one of the primary tools in the field study of bats. Despite its widespread use, practical information on equipment setup, installation techniques, and operational nuances is insufficiently systematized in the literature, posing difficulties for novice researchers. This article provides a detailed review and analysis of the entire range of equipment, adaptations, and techniques used for capturing bats with mist nets. It examines not only classical approaches but also numerous modifications of vertical poles (from fishing rods to combined structures), methods for their stable mounting, and auxiliary gear that significantly facilitates the work, including for solo operators. Special attention is given to the step-by-step algorithm for net deployment and assembly, recommendations for checking nets, extracting animals, and transportation. The article aims to serve as a practical guide, consolidating the authors’ years of experience and disparate methodological solutions into a unified, systematic workflow, thereby addressing the existing gap between highly specialized publications and the needs of field zoologists.
Keywords: Chiroptera, bats, capture method, field methods, vertical poles, mist nets, equipment setup, methodological guidelines
Acknowledgements: the authors express their sincere gratitude to their colleagues U.V. Gorobeyko, T.A. Ilyina, A.B. Kerimov, I.M. Marova, S.A. Simonov, S.I. Gashkov, A.A. Kadetova, A.L. Viskontene, M.S. Malyavina, A.N. Ivanitsky, and A.V. Komolova, who kindly provided the methodological materials and shared their practical experience in using mist nets, which greatly enriched the content of this article.
Financing: the research was carried out as part of the state assignments: project FWGS-2026-0008; project No. 075-00486-26-00 at the FTM Research Center.
For citation: Maslov A.A., Larchenko A.I. Technique of capturing bats using mist nets: review and analysis of existing modifications. Russian Journal of Ecosystem Ecology. 2026;11(2). (In Russ.). Available from: https://doi.org/ 10.21685/2500-0578-2026-2-1