(DRAFT) - Taxonomy
Species BAT, GRAY
Species Id ESIS053002
Date 14 MAR 96
TAXONOMY
NAME - BAT, GRAY
OTHER COMMON NAMES - BAT, GRAY; BAT, GREY; MYOTIS, GRAY; BAT, CAVE; BAT, HOWELL'S; BAT, BROWN and TENNESSEE
ELEMENT CODE -
CATEGORY - Mammals
PHYLUM AND SUBPHYLUM - CHORDATA,
CLASS AND SUBCLASS - MAMMALIA,
ORDER AND SUBORDER - CHIROPTERA,
FAMILY AND SUBFAMILY - VESPERTILIONIDAE,
GENUS AND SUBGENUS - MYOTIS,
SPECIES AND SSP - GRISESCENS,
SCIENTIFIC NAME - MYOTIS GRISESCENS
AUTHORITY -
TAXONOMY REFERENCES -
COMMENTS ON TAXONOMY -
Gray Bat
Myotis grisescens Howell, 1909
KINGDOM: Animal GROUP: Mammal
PHYLUM: Chordata CLASS: Mammalia
ORDER: Chiroptera FAMILY: Vespertilionidae
The gray bat (Myotis grisescens) was described by Howell (13) in
1909. The type specimen was collected at Nickajack Cave, Marion
County, Tennessee. The gray bat's total length is 45-50 mm, ear
length is 13-17 mm, the forearm is 40-46 mm long and the foot is 12 mm
long. Wingspan for the species is 275-300 mm. Weight ranges from
7 to 16 grams. The calcar is not keeled and there is a distinct
sagital crest on the skull. The wing membrane is attached to the
ankle rather than at the first toe on the foot as in other members of
the genus. Dorsal fur is uniformly colored from the base to the tip
of the hair. Fur color is gray after molting, later in the season fur
fur color may be russet. The under parts usually are lighter than
the upperparts. The gray bat is distinguished from the related
Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis), little brown bat (M. lucifagus),
southeastern bat (M. austroriparius) and Keene's bat (M. keenii) by
the presence of uniformly colored dorsal fur and the attachment of
Taxonomy - 1 (DRAFT) - Taxonomy
Species BAT, GRAY
Species Id ESIS053002
Date 14 MAR 96
the wing membrane to the ankle (01,02,03).
There are no disagreements over the taxonomy or nomenclature of
Myotis grisescens. No subspecific categories have been described
within the species. The most widely accepted common name is gray bat
(another spelling as used in the 1986 IUCN Red List of Threatened
Animals (32) is - "grey bat"), other common names in the literature
are: gray myotis, cave bat, Howell's bat and tennessee brown bat (01,
03,14).
Taxonomy - 2 (DRAFT) - Status
Species BAT, GRAY
Species Id ESIS053002
Date 14 MAR 96
STATUS
Coded Status
Alabama; Federal Endangered
Alabama; Unofficially Listed
Florida; Federal Endangered
Florida; Officially Listed
Georgia; Federal Endangered
Georgia; State Listed
Kentucky; Federal Endangered
Kentucky; State Listed
Mississippi; Federal Endangered
Mississippi; State Listed
North Carolina; Federal Endangered
North Carolina; State Listed
Tennessee; Federal Endangered
Tennessee; State Listed
Virginia; Federal Endangered
Virginia; State Listed
E: Federal Endangered
COMMENTS ON STATUS -
U.S. STATUSES AND LAWS:
The gray bat (Myotis grisescens) has been designated an
Endangered species pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973
(50 CFR 17.11; P.L. 93-205, 87 Stat. 884; 16 U.S.C. 1531-1540),
as amended. The species/subspecies has this status wherever found
including the States of Albama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois,
Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina,
Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Virginia.
This species is protected by the Lacey Act
(P.L. 97-79, as amended; 16 U.S.C. 3371 et seq.) which makes it
unlawful to import, export, transport, sell, receive, acquire, or
purchase any wild animal (alive or dead including parts, products,
eggs, or offspring):
(1) in interstate or foreign commerce if taken, possessed,
transported or sold in violation of any State law or
regulation, or foreign law; or
Status - 1 (DRAFT) - Status
Species BAT, GRAY
Species Id ESIS053002
Date 14 MAR 96
(2) if taken or possessed in violation of any U.S. law,
treaty, or regulation or in violation of Indian tribal law.
It is also unlawful to possess any wild animal (alive or dead
including parts, products, eggs, and offspring) within the U.S.
territorial or special maritime jurisdiction (as defined in
18 U.S.C. 7) that is taken, possessed, transported, or sold in
violation of any State law or regulation, foreign law, or Indian
tribal law.
RESPONSIBLE FEDERAL AGENCIES:
USFWS -Responsible for the management/recovery, listing, and
law enforcement/protection of this species.
DOD -Responsible for the law enforcement/protection of this
species with applicable State and Federal laws on
public land under their control. Also responsible for
management/recovery on Department of Defense lands.
NPS -Responsible for the law enforcement/protection of this
species with applicable State and Federal laws on
public lands under their control. Also responsible
for conservation (Nat. Park System Organic Act - 16
U.S.C. 1, 2-3)/management/recovery on National Park
Service lands. Taking, possessing, or disturbing of
Federally listed species is prohibited on NPS lands
(36 CFR 2.1, 2.2, and 2.3).
USFS -Responsible for the law enforcement/protection of this
species with applicable State and Federal laws on
public lands under their control. Also responsible
for management/recovery on Forest Service lands. The
Forest Service is responsible for integrating
management, protection, and conservation of Federally
listed species into the Forest Planning process
(36 CFR 219.19 and 219.20). Management practices that
would cause detrimental changes in water temperature
or composition, water course blockage, or sediment
deposits within 100 feet of the edges of perennial
streams, lakes or other bodies of water are prohibited
(36 CFR 219.27(e)).
All Federal agencies have responsibility to ensure that any
action authorized, funded, or carried out by that agency is not likely
to jeopardize the continued existence of the species or result in the
destruction or adverse modification of Critical Habitat (50 CFR 402),
and to utilize their authorities to carry out programs for the
conservation of the species.
STATE STATUSES AND LAWS:
STATE: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana,
Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina,
Oklahoma, Tennessee, Virginia
DESIGNATED STATUS: Endangered
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCY: AL - Division of Game and Fish
Status - 2 (DRAFT) - Status
Species BAT, GRAY
Species Id ESIS053002
Date 14 MAR 96
AS - Game and Fish Commission
FL - Dept. of Natural Resources
GA - Game and Fish Division
IL - Dept. of Conservation
IN - Dept. of Natural Resources
KS - Fish and Game Commission
KY - Dept. of Fish and Wildl. Resources
MS - Dept. of Wildlife Conservation
MO - Dept. of Conservation
NC - Wilife Resources Commission
OK - Dept. of Wildlife Conservation
TN - Dept. of Wildlife Conservation
VA - Comm. of Game and Inland Fisheries
STATE STATUTE: AS - Amend. No. 35 of Ark. Constitution, 1945.
FL - FL. Admin. Code, Sec. 39-27.03-05; Fla. End.
Sp. Act. of 1977; Fla. Stat. Ann. 372.072.
GA - Game and Fish Codes, Title 27, Ch. 3,
Pp. 130-132.
IL - Revised Statute 1983, Ch. 8, Sec. 331-340,
P.A. 77-2186; 17 IL Admin. Code 1010.30.
IN - IN Code, Non-game and Endangered Species
Act, PL 128; IN Statutes Ann., 14-2-8.5-1;
IN Admin. Code 3-3-6.
KS - Admin. Regs. 23-17-1, May 1980.
KY - Revised Statutes 150-183; 301 KY Admin.
Regs. 3:061.
MS - Public Notice No. 2408 of MS Code of 1972,
Sec. 49-5-101 to 119; and Public Notice No.
2156.
MO - Revised Stat. 252.240, Wildl. code of MO
3 CSR 10-4.111.
NC - Gen. Stat. 113-134, 113-132, 143-239; NC
Admin. Code, NC Resource and Conservation
Dept. Wildl. Resour. and Water Safety, T 15
Subchapter 10I - Endangered and Threatened
Species.
OK - 29 OK Statutes, Annotated, Subsection 2-109,
2-135, 7-501, 7-502, 7-504, and 7-602.
TN - Wildl. Proc. 75-15, 76-4, and Amendments.
VA - State Code 29.230-29.237.
UNOFFICIAL LIST: AL - Endangered in: Endangered and Threatened
Plants and Animals of Alabama, Bull. Ala.
Mus. Nat. Hist.
INTERNATIONAL STATUSES, TREATIES, AND AGREEMENTS:
The gray bat (Myotis gresescens) is listed as Endangered in the
IUCN Red List of Threatened Animals (1986), under the spelling of
"grey bat".
ECONOMIC STATUSES:
The gray bat is entirely insectivorous, as well; as all other
bats within its range; these insect predators are a positive force in
Status - 3 (DRAFT) - Status
Species BAT, GRAY
Species Id ESIS053002
Date 14 MAR 96
controlling night flying insects.
76/04/28:41 FR 17740/ - Listed as Endangered
79/01/17:44 FR 3637/3654 - Republication of List
81/02/27:46 FR 14652/14658 - Notice of 5-year review
87/07/07:52 FR 25523/25528 - Notice of 5-year review
Status - 4 HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS
HABITAT - TERRESTRIAL
TERRESTRIAL
INLAND AQUATIC
SOCIETY OF AMERICAN FORESTRY TYPES
SAF TYPE STAGE CLOSURE
Shortleaf Pine-Oak mature tree
Shortleaf Pine-Oak Old Growth
mature tree
Old Growth
mature tree
Old Growth
LAND USE -
Residential
Mixed Urban or Built-up Land
Deciduous Forest Land
Evergreen Forest Land
Mixed Forest Land
Streams and Canals
Reservoirs
NATIONAL WETLAND INVENTORY CODES
NWI NWICLS NWIMOD NWISPEC
Riverine, upper perennial OW0
Riverine, lower perennial SB2
Riverine, lower perennial SB1
Riverine, lower perennial OW0
Lacustrine, limnetic UB2
Lacustrine, limnetic UB1
Lacustrine, limnetic OW0
Palustrine UB2
Palustrine UB1
Palustrine OW0
COMMENTS ON HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS -
Gray bats (Myotis gresescens) utilize caves year round. In
winter they enter torpor in cold, usually deep caves which act as
cold air traps. In summer females form large colonies in warm caves
which are usually near large bodies of water. Males form bachelor
colonies in cooler caves adjacent to water or in cooler sections of
caves used as maternity sites. Temperatures in caves used for torpor
vary from 6 and 11 degrees Celsius, and in maternity caves the
temperatures vary from 14 to 25 degrees Celsius (01,02,04,06,10,14).
Although the majority of roosts sites are in caves, summer colonies
have been found in a quarry (24), a storm sewer (25), a stream culvert
(26), an abondaned coal mine (27), a dam (28) and an old barn (29).
Vegetation adjacent to caves and foraging areas used by gray bats
includes oak-hickory forest, Appalachian oak forest, beech-maple
forest, and mixed mesophytic forest sections of the eastern deciduous
forest province, the southern floodplain forest section of the
outer coastal plain forest province, and the oak-hickory-bluestem
parkland section of the prairie parkland province (23).
Gray bat summer foraging habitat is found primarily over open
water of rivers and reservoirs. They apparently do not forage over
Habitat Associations - 1 sections of rivers or reservoirs that have lost the normal woody
vegetation along the banks (02,04,06,11). La Val, et al. (11,12)
found that in Missouri foraging within the woody vegetation adjacent
to rivers occurred during the dark phases of the moon.
Habitat Associations - 2 (DRAFT) - Food Habits
Species BAT, GRAY
Species Id ESIS053002
Date 14 MAR 96
FOOD HABITS
TROPHIC LEVEL -
CARNIVORE
LIFESTAGE FOOD FOOD PART
General Arthropods
Food Habits - 1 (DRAFT) - Environment Associations
Species BAT, GRAY
Species Id ESIS053002
Date 14 MAR 96
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS
G = General A = Adult
LIM = Limiting RA = Resting Adult
J = Juvenile FA = Feeding Adult
RJ = Resting Juvenile BA = Breeding Adult
FJ = Feeding Juvenile P = Pupae
L = Larvae E = Egg
RL = Resting Larvae
FL = Feeding Larvae
LIFESTAGE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS
G Terrestrial Features: Caves, wet
G Terrestrial Features: Caves, dry
G
G
G Human Association: Abandoned buildings
Environment Associations - 1 (DRAFT) - Life History
Species BAT, GRAY
Species Id ESIS053002
Date 14 MAR 96
LIFE HISTORY
FOOD HABITS:
Gray bat summer caves are found in close proximity to large
bodies of water which produce or attract the insects upon which gray
bats feed (05,06). Tuttle (06) states that gray bat summer caves are
usually within one kilometer and rarely more than four kilometers of
water.
In Missouri (12), examination of fecal pellets showed that aquatic
insect orders Plectoptera, Ephermeroptera, and Trichoptera were
important components of the gray bat's food supply (98 percent of
some samples). Howevere, in late summer, oak beetles (Coleoptera)
made up as much as 50 percent of the diet. Lepidopterans and
Dipterans were also important components on some occassions. Tuttle
(cited in 06) reports that gray bats foraging oover reservoirs in
Tennessee feed primarily on Ephemeropterans.
LaVal, et al. (11) report that their observations in Missouri
generally support Tuttle's (06) conclusions taht gray bats feed over
open water of rivers or reservoirs. However, they did observe a large
percentage (28.3 percent of 138 individuals) of gray bats tagged with
chemiluminescent tags foraging among trees.
LaVal, et al. (12) further report that their observations reveal
a close correlation between feeding over water and the phase of the
moon. On nights with little moonlight gray bats forage over water
while during bright moonlit nights many were observed foraging within
wooded areas. The speculate that this change in foraging behavior is
the direct result of the prey availiability. Insect biomass was found
to be about 10 times higher over water durring dark moon phases than
during bright moon periods.
HOME RANGE/TERRITORY:
Tuttle (05) states that gray bats, like many other bats, are
strongly loyal to their summer and winter caves, returning year after
year to the same caves for hibernation (torpor) and departing in the
spring for the same maternity caves or series of maternity caves.
Durring fall and spring transit between summer and winter caves the
same transient caves are used.
PERIODICITY:
The gray bat is nocturnal and seasonally active. Females arrive
at hibernation (torpor) sites bewteen mid-Augustb and mid-September,
while males arrive in October. Males leave hibernation sites between
mid-May and mid-April and females leave between March 15 and April 15.
Maternity nand bachelor colonies are established between mid-March
and mid-May. Gray bats leave their summer caves at dusk to forage and
return by dawn. Nursing females often return to maternity caves
within a couple of hours of dusk in order to nurse their young (02).
MIGRATION PATTERNS:
Gray bats seasonally migrate between their summer and winter
cave. While in route between summer and winter sites they use the
same transient caves year after year.
The gray bat recovery plan (02) lists the following high priority
Life History - 1 (DRAFT) - Life History
Species BAT, GRAY
Species Id ESIS053002
Date 14 MAR 96
hibernacula with the specific maternity caves with each hibernaculum:
Hibernaculum: Maternity Colony:
Fern Cave, AL Nickajack Cave, TN
Sauta Cave, AL
Bellamy Cave, TN
Cave Springs Cave, AL
Key Cave, AL
Georgetown Cave, AL
Hambrick Cave, AL
Sanders Cave, AL
Bonanza Cave, AR Bone Cave, AR
Logan Cave, AR
Saltpeter Cave, MO
Tumbling Creek Cave, MO
Old Indian Cave, FL Geromes Cave, FL
Judges Cave, FL
Girards Cave, FL
Jesse James Cave, KY Cave Springs Cave, IL
Cool Springs Cave, KY
Holland Cave, KY
Chrismans Cave, KY
Overstreet Cave, KY
Coffin Cave, MO Moles Cave, MO
Mauss Cave, MO
Beck Cave, MO
Inca Cave, MO
Chimney Cave, MO Bat Cave, MO
Roaring Springs Cave, MO
Marvel cave, MO Saltpeter Cave, MO
Tumbling Creek Cave, MO
Pearson Cave, TN Oaks Cave, TN
Nickajack Cave, TN
White Buis Cave, TN
Indian Cave, TN
Tobaccoport Saltpeter Cave, TN Bellamy Cave, TN
Hubbards Cave, TN Nickajack Cave, TN
Bellamy Cave, TN
Cripps Mill Cave, TN
COVER/SHELTER REQUIREMENTS:
Gray bats utilize caves year round. In winter they hibernate
in cold, usually deep caves which act as cold air traps. In summer
females form large colonies in warm caves which are usually near large
bodies of water. Males from bachelor colonies inb cooler caves
adjacent to water or in cooler sections of caves used as maternity
sites. Temperatures in hibernation (torpor) caves vary between 6 and
11 degrees Celcius and from 14 to 25 degrees Celcius in maternity
caves (01,02,04,06,10,14). Although the majority of roost sites are
in caves, summer colonies have been found in a quarry (24), a storm
sewer (25), a stream culvert (26), an abandoned coal mine (27), a dam
(28), and an old barn (29).
Life History - 2 (DRAFT) - Life History
Species BAT, GRAY
Species Id ESIS053002
Date 14 MAR 96
Life History - 3 (DRAFT) - Life History
Species BAT, GRAY
Species Id ESIS053002
Date 14 MAR 96
REPRODUCTIVE SITE REQUIREMENTS:
Gray bats mate upon arrival at their hibernation caves. After
mating females enter hibernation (torpor) while the males and
juveniles of both sexas remain active for a few additional weeks (02,
05,09). Females select summer caves which have warm (14 to 25 degrees
Celcius)roosts sites for reaing young. Most maternity caves are with
1 to 4 kilometers of the rivers and reservoirs used as foraging sites
(02,06). Cave configuration which provide the cold tempertures
required for hibernation and the warm temperatures required for
reproduction are described and discussed by Tuttle (10).
REPRODUCTIVE CHARACTERISTICS:
Mating occurs in the fall before gray bats enter into hibernation
(torpor). The females store the sperm over the winter and
fertilization takes place as they leave the hibernation sites.
Females do not producve young untill their second year. One young per
female is produced per year after females reach sexual maturity (01,
02,05,08,30).
PARENTAL CARE:
Female gray bats give birth to a single young between May 15 and
June 15. Nursing continues from birth until shortly after young begin
to fly (20-25 days). Reproductive females and their young congregate
in large maternity colonies in warm (14-25 degrees Celcius) caves
within 1-4 kilometers of water. Females apparently do not treach
their young how or where to feed for insects (01,02,04,06).
POPULATION BIOLOGY:
Gray bats are limited by the following factors:
1. contamination of their food supply by biocides
2. adverse alteration of their preferred foraging habitat,
3. human induced natural adverse alterations of their summer
and winter caves,
4. human disturbance during hibernation and during the
maternity period,
5. vandalism, and
6. removal of woody vegetation along travel corridors or
adjacent to preferred foraging areas.
In Missouri a nine year study revealed gray bat survival rates
of 69.5 percent for males and 73.1 percent for females (31).
Mortality during the first year is higher than in susequent years,
and also is high durring spring and fall migration periods (09).
The gray bat's low reproductive rate of one young per female per
year limits the species ability to recover rapidly from natural and
human induced reductions.
SPECIES INTERRELATIONSHIPS:
None.
OTHER LIFE HISTORY DESCRIPTORS:
None.
Life History - 4 (DRAFT) - Life History
Species BAT, GRAY
Species Id ESIS053002
Date 14 MAR 96
Life History - 5 (DRAFT) - Management Practices
Species BAT, GRAY
Species Id ESIS053002
Date 14 MAR 96
MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
RESULT MANAGEMENT PRACTICE
Beneficial Restricting/regulating human disturbance of populations
Beneficial Land Acquisition
Beneficial Controlling/Restricting Pesticide Use
Beneficial Controlling/Restricting Herbicide Use
Beneficial Reforestation
Adverse Harassment/Vandalism/Indiscriminate Killing
Existing Harassment/Vandalism/Indiscriminate Killing
Adverse Spelunking
Existing Spelunking
Adverse Food Supply Reduction
Existing Food Supply Reduction
Adverse Predation
Existing Predation
Adverse Recreational development
Existing Recreational development
Adverse Highway/Railroads
Existing Highway/Railroads
Adverse Soil compaction by heavy equipment in mine areas
Existing Soil compaction by heavy equipment in mine areas
Adverse Siltation
Existing Siltation
Adverse Water Temperature Alteration
Existing Water Temperature Alteration
Adverse Dissolved Oxygen Reduction
Existing Dissolved Oxygen Reduction
Adverse Reservoirs
Existing Reservoirs
Adverse Dredging
Existing Dredging
Adverse Applying fertilizers
Existing Applying fertilizers
Adverse Applying herbicides
Existing Applying herbicides
Adverse Applying pesticides
Existing Applying pesticides
Adverse Environmental Contamination/Pollution
Existing Environmental Contamination/Pollution
Adverse
Existing
Adverse Forest Alteration
Existing Forest Alteration
Adverse Harvesting
Existing Harvesting
COMMENTS ON MANAGEMENT PRACTICES -
Gray bats (Myotis grisescens) are dependent upon caves
year round. In winter large numbers hibernate in a few major caves
which exhibit the temperature and humidity levels required for
Management Practices - 1 (DRAFT) - Management Practices
Species BAT, GRAY
Species Id ESIS053002
Date 14 MAR 96
hibernation. In the summer females form large colonies in maternity
caves that provide the warmer tempertures which are optimum for growth
and development of gray bat young. Alterations at either the entrance
or within the interior of gray bat caves can have significant adverse
impacts upon the colonies utilizing the caves. Alterations are
usually the result of planned efforts to commercialize a cave or to
restrict human access by the construction of gates or fences. If
these activities are not planned and carried out in a way to minimize
or eliminate changes in the cave environment they can have disastrous
results on the gray bat.
Disturbance of gray bat colonies is believed to be the primary
factor in the observed decline of this species each disturbance during
hibernation arouses all individuals present in the colony and results
in the expenditure of 20-30 days of stored fat. Gray bats must
survive for a period of 6 to 6.5 months on the fat they stored before
entering torpir. Excessive unnatural arousals during the hibernation
can therefore greatly increase mortality. Disturbance in summer can
cause direct mortality of any juveniles present or can result in the
relocation of the disturbed colony to less suitable caves or roost
sites. Disturbance, whether the result of recreational caving,
scientific research or inappropriate cave commercialization, has a
highly negative impact on the gray bat.
Contamination of the gray bat's food supply by pesticides has
shown to have an adverse affect upon the species. Alterations in
the gray bat's insectivorous prey base through inappropriate
application of biocides and other agricultural products or through
water quality deterioration would also be expected to adversely affect
the species. Adverse water quality changes such as increased or
decreased temperature, decreased oxygen, or increased siltation can
result from highway construction, forestry practices, reservoir
construction and operation, dredging for navigational channels, or the
operation of heavy equipment in or near streams or reservoirs.
Predation at cave entrances, especially those which have been
modified by poorly designed gates can also affect the gray bat.
Predators observed taking gray bats or other cave bats include rat
snakes, owls, raccoons, bobcats, and hawks.
Gray bats usually follow wooded corridors from their summer caves
to the open water areas used as foraging sites. Removal or alteration
of these travel corridors could adversely affect the species.
Malicious vandalism resulting from ignorance is also a factor in the
gray bats decline.
References from the above summary of the factors causing the
decline of the gray bat are: 01,02,04,05,06,07,08,10,12,14,15,16,17,
18,19,20,21, and 22.
Threats to the gray bat have remained the same in the recent
past. Future threats are anticipated to be the same as the present
threats.
APPROVED PLAN:
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1982. Gray Bat (Myotis gresescens)
Recovery Plan. U.S. Fish and Wildl. Serv., Twin Cities, MN 22 pp.
Management Practices - 2 (DRAFT) - Management Practices
Species BAT, GRAY
Species Id ESIS053002
Date 14 MAR 96
The primary objectives of the gray bat recovery plan are to
first reclassify the species from endangered to threatened status and
than to delist the spercies. The criteria for downlisting are
permanent protection of 90 percent of the Priority 1 hibernacula and
stable or increasing populations at 75 percent of the Priority 1
maternity caves over a five year time period. The criteria for
delisting the species (in addition to the requirements for
downlisting) are permanent protection of 25 percent of the Priority 2
caves in each state and stable or increasing p[opulations for a period
of five years.
To accomplish these goals the following tasks are indentified:
1. Protect and prevent disturbance at important hibernation and
maternity caves through public education, signs, fences, gates,
and cave purchase or other less costly protective action if
appropriate.
2. Identify and census all gray bat roost sites on a regular basis in
order to monmitor the status and recovery of the species.
3. Identify, protect, and restore gray bat foraging areas.
4. Monitor toxic chemicals (i.e., pesticides and herbicides) in gray
bats, their guano, and food supply.
The Service developed by contract with Bat Conservation
International, a bat conservation brochure, a slide/tape program and
a 3-panel color display as a part of its educational program for the
gray bat. Censusing of the more significant maternity and hibernation
sites is conducted on a regular basis in most states within gray bat's
range. Gates, fences, and /or signs, as appropriate are being
installed at the most important roost sites. The Service, other
Federal agencies, the responsible state management agencies, the
Nature Conservancy, and several volunteer organizations (National
Speleological Society, American Cave Conservation Association, Cave
Conservation Institute, and others) are actively working to accomplish
the goals of the gray bat recovery plan.
Management Practices - 3 (DRAFT) - References
Species BAT, GRAY
Species Id ESIS053002
Date 14 MAR 96
References
***** REFERENCES FOR ALL NARRATIVES EXCEPT N-OCCURRENCE *****
01 Barbour, R.W. and W. Davis. 1969. Bats of North America. The
Univ. Press. of KY., Lexington. 286 pp.
02 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1982. Gray Bat Recovery Plan.
U.S. Fish and Wildl. Serv., Washington, D.C. 26 pp.
03 Hall, E.R. and K.R. Kelson. 1959. The mammals of North America.
The Ronald Press Co., NY Vol. I:164-165.
04 Tuttle, M.D. 1975. Population ecology of the gray bat (Myotis
grisescens): Factors influencing early growth and development.
Occas. Pap. Mus. Nat. Hist. Univ. Kans. 36:1-24.
05 Tuttle, M.D. 1976. Population ecology of the gray bat (Myotis
grisescens): Philopatry, timing and patterns of movement, weight
loss during migration, and seasonal adaptive strategies. Occas.
Pap. Mus. Nat. Hist. Univ. Kans. 54:1-38.
06 Tuttle, M.D. 1976. Population ecology of the gray bat (Myotis
grisescens): Factors influencing growth and survival of newly
volant young. Ecology 57(3):587-595.
07 Tuttle, M.D. 1977. Gating as a means of protecting cave dwelling
bats. Pp. 77-82 in: Aley, T. and D. Rhodes, eds. 1976. National
cave management symposium proceedings. Mountain View, AR.
Speleobooks, Albuquerque, NM. 106 pp.
08 Tuttle, M.D. 1979. Status, causes of decline, and management of
endangered gray bats. I. Wildl. Manage. 43(1):1-17.
09 Tuttle, M.D. and D. Stevenson. 1977. An analysis of migration
as a mortality factor in the gray bat based on public recoveries
of banded bats. Amer. Mid. Nat. 97(1):235-240.
10 Tuttle, M.D. and D. Stevenson. 1978. Variation in the cave
environment and its biological implications. Pp. 108-121 in:
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11 LaVal, R.K., R.L. Clawson, M.L. LaVal and W. Caire. 1977.
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17 Harvey, M.J., J.J. Cassidy and C.G. O'Hagan. 1979. Satus of the
References - 1 (DRAFT) - References
Species BAT, GRAY
Species Id ESIS053002
Date 14 MAR 96
Endangered bats Myotis sodalis, M. grisescens and Plecotus
townsendii ingens in Arkansas. Ark. Acad. Sci. Proc. 33:81.
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23 Bailey, R.G. 1980. Descriptions of the ecoregions of the United
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26 Dalton, Virginia. 1987. Pers. comm. Biology Dept., Radford
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27 Barclay, L.A., Jr. and D.R. Parsons. 1984. Use of abandoned mines
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32 International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural
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01 Barbour, R.W. and W. Davis. 1969. Bats of North America. The
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04 Brack, V. Jr. 1988. Pers. comm. Wapora Inc., Cincinatti, OH.
05 Clawson, R. 1986. Pers. comm. Missouri Dept. of Cons., Columbia,
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Species BAT, GRAY
Species Id ESIS053002
Date 14 MAR 96
MO.
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