HARRISBURG (TNS) — The northern long-eared bat — a Pennsylvania species on the edge of extinction — is being considered for reclassification as endangered under the federal Endangered Species Act by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
The bat already is listed as threatened, but faces extinction because of white-nose syndrome, a deadly disease affecting cave-dwelling bats across North America.
“White-nose syndrome is devastating northern long-eared bats at unprecedented rates,” said U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Regional Director Charlie Wooley. “The service is deeply committed to continuing our vital research with partners on reducing the impacts of white-nose syndrome, while working with diverse stakeholders to conserve the northern long-eared bat and reduce impacts to landowners.”
White-nose syndrome has spread across nearly 80 percent of the long-eared bat’s entire range and nearly all its U.S. range since it was listed as threatened in 2015.
According to USFWS, the proposal to change the status of the northern long-eared bat comes after an in-depth review of the species found that the bat continues to decline and now meets the definition of endangered under the ESA.
That review found that white-nose syndrome is expected to affect 100 percent of the northern long-eared bat’s U.S. range by 2025, spreading more quickly than anticipated across the continent.
Data indicate white-nose syndrome has caused estimated declines of 97-100 percent in affected northern long-eared bat populations.
Endangered species are those currently in danger of extinction, while threatened species are defined as likely to become endangered in the foreseeable future.
The wind energy industry has 16 habitat conservation plans in place and an additional 13 in development to allow wind energy projects to move forward after minimizing and mitigating their impacts to northern long-eared bats.
Many transportation projects also already have ESA compliance in place that will remain if reclassification to endangered status is finalized. For instance, the Service has completed a programmatic consultation with the Federal Highway Administration, the Federal Railroad Administration and the Federal Transit Administration that covers transportation projects throughout the entire range of the northern long-eared bat.
The northern long-eared bat is found in 37 states, including Pennsylvania, and the District of Columbia in the eastern and northcentral U.S. and all Canadian provinces from the Atlantic Coast west to the southern Northwest Territories and eastern British Columbia.
Comments on the proposed reclassification may be submitted through May 23 at the Federal eRulemaking Portal or by U.S. mail to Public Comments Processing, Attn: FWS–R3–ES–2021–0140, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, MS: PRB/3W, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041–3803.
A final decision is expected by November.
