SERVICES:

Our staff biologists can assist with all aspects of work related to rare and endangered bats. Regulatory policies often change as new information becomes available. Although some general guidelines can be provided, each project is unique and our approach may be different from one area to the next. Regardless of the site specific conditions, our goal is to move our clients projects through the regulatory process in an efficient and expedient manner.

Our services include:

Agency Coordination - Early coordination with state and federal regulatory agencies is the first step in any endangered species project. Tragus, Inc. works in the interest of our clients to move projects through the regulatory process as quickly as possible.

Mist-Netting Survey - A study designed to physically survey the species of bats present at a site. A mist-netting survey follows strict guidelines for determining the presence/absence of endangered bats from a project area. All work is conducted at night and restricted to narrow seasonal windows. Results are detailed in a technical report and forwarded to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service for concurrence. Assuming negative results (no endangered bats are found), the client is generally permitted to clear trees.

Acoustic Monitoring - Acoustic monitoring is the recording of bat vocalizations (bat calls). Bats emit high frequency calls to navigate, search out food and to communicate socially with one another. Special units are used to record these calls. Specifically, the ANABAT unit has gained popularity because it can be used outdoors for long periods of time at sites such as meteorologic towers (MET towers) for pre-construction wind farm assessments and also to assess bat activity at mines, caves and roost trees. The recorded bat calls are analyzed with computer software which creates sonograms of the calls. These sonograms can in many cases accurately identify the bat species.

Habitat Survey - A study designed to identify both summer and winter habitat for rare and endangered bats. Summer habitat is generally restricted to trees with loose bark, cavities, and snags. During the summer, females may form maternity colonies in these types of trees to rear their young. Winter habitat includes caves, deep crevices, and abandoned mines that bats might use as a hibernation site (termed hibernacula). For smaller projects, individual trees can be mapped and overlaid on site plans to determine specific impacts. For larger projects, general areas with high densities of suitable trees are identified and numbers are estimated.

Habitat Evaluation - An evaluation of the overall quality of any habitat that might be present. In addition to the characteristics included in a habitat survey, an evaluation would also consider the approximate age and location of trees, water sources, and relation of the site to other natural areas.

Emergence Survey - A study designed to determine if bats are roosting in a specific tree. An emergence survey requires a trained biologist to monitor an individual tree for two consecutive nights. Assuming negative results, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service generally requires tree cutting to be complete within 24 hours.

Radio Telemetry Survey - In the event that an endangered bat is captured during a mist netting survey, it can be advantageous to know the exact location of the tree(s) that these bats might be using. In this case, a small radio transmitter is fixed to the back of an individual bat and biologist use a receiver to track the bat to its roost tree.

Project Permitting - In many instances, endangered species conditions are written into a Section 401 or Section 404 permit. In most cases, mining permits also require Indiana bat compliance measures. We are available to assist with permitting issues related to rare and endangered bats.

Biological Assessments - A formal document that details the possible impacts (direct and indirect) to an endangered species as they relate to a specific project or action. This process is generally required for larger sites and projects undertaken by government agencies.

Mitigation - In some instances, it is not possible to entirely avoid impacts and potential impacts to endangered species. In these instances, Tragus, Inc. biologists are able to propose compensatory mitigation plans to offset the taking of an endangered species or their associated habitats.