Vol. 24, No. 5 March 18, 2016

Virginia's Endangered Bats – Implications Clearer

Hot off the Press! Wetland Studies and Solutions, Inc. (WSSI) has just received information from Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF) regarding what restrictions they are planning on imposing in regards to the listing of the little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus) and tri-colored bat (Perimyotis subflavus) that are expected to go into effect April 1st.

Per our Field Notes article last month, on January 11, 2016, the Board of Game and Inland Fisheries published a proposed action in the Virginia Register of Regulations to update the state’s endangered and threatened species list. The updates included the listing of little brown bat and the tri-colored bat as state-endangered. However, what was not disclosed at that time by VDGIF was how this proposed action would affect land development activities.

Until now…

VDGIF GIS staff is in the process of preparing a map that will be posted on their website (completion date goal of next week) that will illustrate buffers around all known hibernacula and maternity roost sites (similar to what U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services (USFWS) has posted on their website for the northern long-eared bat [Myotis septentrionalis]). The map will be continuously updated as they collect information regarding locations of known hibernacula and maternity roost sites. The buffer areas (termed “priority known occurrence area” by VDGIF) around the sites of known hibernacula and maternity roosts are the only areas they will be imposing time-of-year restrictions. So if your project is not located within one of those buffer areas, you will not be subject to time-of-year restrictions or bat surveys for tree clearing. Additionally, projects that obtain a “known occurrence” listing of the little brown bat and/or tri-colored bat from the VDGIF Fish and Wildlife Information Service (FWIS) online tool will not be subject to time-of-year restrictions or bat surveys by the VDGIF.

While we wait for updates to VDGIF’s website, below is a map of the counties in Virginia with known hibernacula from VDGIF as well as a general location of one of the maternity roost sites in Fauquier County (the other two maternity roost sites are on private land in Giles and Rockingham counties). If your project is in one of the counties shaded for known hibernacula, VDGIF will work with you to confirm whether or not a priority known occurrence area is in the vicinity of your project site.

Little Brown Bat & Tri Colored Bat - Priority Hibernacula in Virginia Map: Click the image to enlarge.
In the event your project site is located within one of the priority known occurrence areas, VDGIF has provided a Guidance Document on Best Management Practices for Conservation of Little Brown Bats and Tri-Colored Bats (February 16, 2016). This document will provide conservation practices to be taken and whether or not a specific practice is eligible for incidental take of either of these species. Note that if your project is located within a priority known occurrence area, further coordination with VDGIF will be necessary.

If you have any questions regarding this information or would like to discuss further how this information affects you project, please contact Ben Rosner or Jennifer Van Houten.