The Bradford Era: Thompson Fights to Keep Bat Species from being Called 'Endangered'

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By Ruth Bogan

U.S. Rep. Glenn Thompson, R-Pa., has proposed to keep the northern long-eared bat off the endangered species list for another year.

The proposal was made in the form of an amendment to the FY16 Interior & Environment Appropriations Act, an amendment that was passed by a voice vote Tuesday night. Thompson said the Interior & Environment Appropriations Act -- a funding bill for Oct. 1, 2015, to Sept. 30, 2016 -- will be considered today.

"What I offered is a limiting amendment," Thompson said, explaining if the amendment becomes law, it will serve to prevent the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service from elevating the northern long-eared bat from "threatened" to "endangered" status by ruling that no money will be spent for that purpose during the fiscal year.

According to Thompson, calling the bat species "endangered" would do little to protect the species while creating hardships for industries that utilize the land where the bats live.

"Basically, if the Fish and Wildlife Service would decide to elevate the listing from threatened to endangered, it wouldn't change the course for the long-eared bat," Thompson said. "What it would change is jobs -- a lot of jobs at that." This would include jobs in the timber, oil and gas and home construction industries, he said.

Additionally, Thompson is concerned the move would prolong utility service disruptions. If, for instance, a tree fell on a power line, a permit would have to be obtained before it could be fixed in certain habitat areas of the northern long-eared bat.

Thompson indicated the threat to the safety of the northern long-eared bat is not something he is taking lightly.

"Bats play a very important role in our ecosystem," Thompson said, explaining they keep the insect population in check by eating the insects. However, Thompson also said, "We need to give the Fish and Wildlife Service the right tools." Listing the species as endangered would be the "wrong tools," he said.

According to Thompson, the right tools would include federal funding to research white nose syndrome, which he's requested. He said a $1 million grant was given last week to states including Pennsylvania that have cases of white nose syndrome, and a request for more money is currently on the table.

"This particular species is having problems. The problems have been very well documented as being related to a disease," Thompson said, explaining the disease interrupts their sleep when they are hibernating, causing them to wake up at the wrong time. "They don't have enough body fat and can't eat enough to survive."

"It's important that we take measures to address the needs of the bat," according to Thompson, who added, "We've already done that."

With the northern long-eared bat's recent designation as a threatened species, industries are now face some regulations working near the species' habitat.

Paul Lyskava, executive director of the Pennsylvania Forest Products Association, said that when species was listed as a threatened species starting on May 4, a 4(d) rule was implemented outlining how each group can work around the bats' habitats.

For now, the rule "allowed for forestry to continue to take place throughout most of the year throughout most of the state," said Lyskava.

A 4(d) rule, implemented under the Endangered Species Act, allows the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to make specific regulations to protect the species. The 4(d) rules for the northern long-eared bat impacts around 38 states where the bat lives.

He said being an endangered species and being a threatened species are very similar with the main difference being the 4(d) rules.

Lyskava explained there are separate regulations that apply to different groups that use forest land. He outlined the three basic regulations that apply to forestry workers under the 4(d) rule.

First, as the species lives in caves during the winter, there are to be "no activities within a quarter-mile of any identified hibernaculum which contains northern long-eared bats." In Pennsylvania, there are just under 120 hibernacula that have been identified, he said.

Second, between June 1 and Jan. 31, in the industry "we do not harvest any trees that have been identified as known roosting trees for the northern long-eared bat," Lyskava said. "Third, we are not allowed to clear cut within a quarter-mile of any of those known roosting trees from June 1 to July 31."

While he understands the need to protect the species, Lyskava indicated he'd like to see that the regulations are written to meet that goal. "Our focus is mainly not being able to be close to hibernacula throughout the year. Mid-November through the beginning of April makes a little bit of sense, but when the bats aren't there, to have all that land not available" would be a hardship.

Lyskava explained bats catch white nose syndrome while hibernating close to each other in caves and said above ground work "does not do any harm to the bats themselves. It's the disease that's killing them. There's presently no answer to the disease. Researchers are looking at options."

"Congressman Thompson did a good thing adding the amendment," Lyskava said.

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