Scott protects endangered bat Published July 30, 2009 By Christi Spargur 375th Airlift Wing Public Affairs SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- Myotis Sodalis lives among the trees on the east side of Scott along Silver Creek. The animal is more commonly known as the Indiana Bat and is a federally endangered species. The Indiana Bat has been on the endangered species list since 1967, even though the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimates their current population at 380,000. Approximately 10 percent of the entire Indiana Bat population is in Illinois with their population increasing every year since 1990. Maternity colonies have been documented in 28 counties in Illinois including St. Clair County. Researchers have looked for the Indiana Bat on base since 1991, but were not able to positively identify them until 2001. Last year, a new study captured 30 different bats here; seven were identified as the endangered Indiana Bat. "The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service lists six federally threatened and endangered species as occurring or potentially occurring in St. Clair County," said Cindy Nolan with the 375th Civil Engineer Squadron's Conservation Management Flight. "There may be more than just the Indiana Bat on base, but so far, only the Indiana Bat has been positively identified here. "According to the Endangered Species Act of 1973, Scott must provide a means to conserve the ecosystems for the Indiana Bat. Scott must also provide a program for the conservation of the Indiana Bat." As a part of this conservation program, Scott contracted with Science Applications International Corporation to establish conservation measures to ensure the base is in compliance with the requirements of the Endangered Species Act. SAIC then partnered with researchers at Indiana State University's Center for North American Bat Research and Conservation to gauge the population of Indiana Bats at Scott. "The survey will in turn provide SAIC with information needed to develop a comprehensive base plan for protecting the Indiana Bat at Scott," said Brian Tutterow, an environmental scientist with SAIC. On July 6, Mr. Tutterow and researchers with Indiana State University's for North American Bat Research and Conservation set up mist nets in the wooded area behind the family camp ground at Scott Lake and the woods behind the base sewer plant to capture Indiana Bats for population tracking. The team successfully captured six Indiana Bats. "This is actually a lot of Indiana Bats for one night," said Brianne Walters, a researcher with the Center for North American Bat Research and Conservation. "It isn't surprising since we captured them before in these locations. Back then, though, it took six nights to capture seven bats." Once the bats are captured, they are weighed and measured. Then, a small patch of fur is clipped from the back of the bat's neck and a radio tracking device is attached using surgical glue. The device emits a radio frequency that is picked up on the researchers' receivers. The researchers then use the signal to locate the bat's daytime roosting site "Determining the roosting site is key to identifying where the bats are located and aides in determining the population size of the bats in the general area," said Mr. Tutterow. "We were able to track the bats back to four different roost trees and then count the number of Indiana Bats that appeared at dusk each evening," said Mr. Tutterow. "By doing this we were able to count approximately 80 Indiana Bats as they emerged from the different trees. We also discovered the bats were using different trees each night. One tree had 20 bats one night, for example, 10 the next and 40 the following night." These results help to provide the base with conservation and management recommendations. Some of these recommendations as outlined by Ms. Nolan are: · To continue the inventory and monitoring of bat populations to ensure the bat community is stable and still inhabiting Scott; · to locate roost area and specific trees which allows for the protection of these resources; · to protect the Indiana Bat's roosting and foraging habitat; · to prepare an endangered species management plan focusing on the protection of the foraging and roosting habitats. Endangered Species One of the reasons the Indiana bat is endangered is the loss of their habitat. The bat, as their Latin name implies, is a social species gathering in large numbers when they hibernate. Any impact to their hibernation site can cause the death of thousand of bats. The U.S. Wildlife and Fish Service lists threats as "modifications to caves, mines and surrounding areas that change airflow and alter microclimate in hibernacula [winter hibernation site]." "Basically Indiana Bats require very specific conditions in their winter caves to allow them to hibernate without using up too much of the energy they have stored as fat," said Mr. Tutterow. "If they are disturbed too early or the climate changes in the cave, the bats can starve before there are enough bugs present in the spring to feed them. "Many of the winter caves have been protected," said Mr. Tutterow. "Until recently, the number of Indiana Bats in some states was increasing. However, in the last couple of years, cave hibernating bats, such as the Indiana Bat, have been experiencing a mysterious die off. "The die off appears to be caused by a fungal infection called white nose syndrome," said Mr. Tutterow. "Bats in the eastern part of the United States have been affected by this disease and it appears to be spreading westward." Other threats to the Indiana Bat are natural catastrophes that cause damage to their hibernating caves and the loss of their forested habitat. At Scott, the Indiana Bat roosts in trees on pieces of separating bark. Their habitat on base is different than those in other locations. "The habitat at Scott is quite unique for this part of Illinois," said Mr. Tutterow. "The bats need a food source and a suitable roosting sight. The forested areas along Silver Creek provide both. "Indiana Bats prefer to roost in large trees, usually dead, with exfoliating bark. In most places, these types of trees would be cut down," said Mr. Tutterow. "Within the forested floodplain and wetland areas of Scott, the bats have plenty of suitable trees to roost and raise their young. These habitats also provide an abundant source of insects since wetland areas such as those along Silver Creek produce more insects than a crop field or lawn where pesticides may be sprayed to kill these insects." To comply with the Endangered Species Act and to preserve the Indiana bat's habitat on base, all trees with exfoliating bark are left in place and harvest activities are minimized during the period when Indiana bats are present said Ms. Nolan.