The USFWS is actively soliciting data and qualitative information about several bat species as part of their consideration of whether or not these bats should be added to the federal Endangered Species List. Survey forms have gone out to bat biologists and other wildlife officials, with feedback due over the next couple of months.
Priority is being given to information about the Little brown bat (
Myotis lucifugus), the Eastern small-footed bat (
Myotis leibii), and the Northern long-eared bat (
Myotis septentrionalis). All three of these are the subject of formal petitions or status reports already received by USFWS.
In addition, information and data is being sought for the Big brown bat (
Eptesicus fuscus), the Tri-colored bat (
[i]Perimyotis subflavus[/i]), the Southeastern myotis (
Myotis austroriparius ) and Cave bat (
Myotis velifer).
In addition to information about hibernacula, population data, and presence of WNS or Geomyces destructans, questions include information about other environmental threats - natural or manmade - from floods, to development, to wind turbines, and more. Further, the survey seeks information as to whether the respondent feels there are adequate protections in place, such as cave closure orders.
All of this will lead USFWS to conclusions as to whether or not any of these species are threatened with extinction, and thus warrant listing as endangered. Significant habitat, recovery plans, and other protection measures will need to be developed for any species they deem warrant this protection. Some states are already moving in this direction under their own laws and regulations, Wisconsin, Vermont, and Massachusetts among them.
The Endangered Species Act process is a lengthy one, and it does certainly involve public input. While some of these bats have clearly been seriously affected by WNS, the question of federal listing is a complicated one. It will behoove all of us to pay close attention to this process and to provide input along the way. Listing will have ramifications both below and above ground.
Once USFWS makes a determination that a full-blown investigation is warranted, that decision is required to be published in the Federal Register, along with any draft regulations. These are then the subject of review and public and professional input. For anyone wishing to review the entire Endangered Species Act, it can be found on line at:
http://epw.senate.gov/esa73.pdf