EASTERN RED BAT (LASIURUS BOREALIS) IMPALED BY A LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE (LANIUS LUDOVICIANUS)

We describe the first record of a loggerhead shrike (Lanius ludovicianus) impaling a bat. The eastern red bat specimen (Lasiurus borealis) was found at Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge (Chambers County, Texas) and was collected the following day. We describe the habitat at the site where the bat was impaled and discuss the rarity of this event. This is the first time we have observed an impaled bat during approximately 200 h of casual observation. The prey typically impaled are orthopterans (approximately one-half of all impaled prey), frogs and toads, crayfish, birds, and, to a lesser extent, reptiles and rodents. Approximately 7% of the prey were completely consumed, 35% partially consumed, and more than half were not consumed.