OHIO DIVISION OF WILDLIFE AND USFWS (OH FIELD OFFICE) GUIDANCE FOR BAT PERMITTED BIOLOGIST April 2015 Agency Contacts: ODNR-DOW Permit Coordinator: Melissa Moser, melissa.moser@dnr.state.oh.us, (614) 265-6439 ODNR-DOW State Bat Biologist: Jennifer Norris, jennifer.norris@dnt.state.oh.us, (614) 265-6349 USFWS OH-FO Endangered Species: Angela Boyer, angela_boyer@fws.gov, (614) 416-8993, ext.22 Ohio Survey Protocols: Indiana bats (Myotis sodalis), northern long-eared bats (Myotis septentrionalis), and other species of bats in Ohio are declining. White-nose syndrome (WNS) has exponentially contributed to the declining bat populations in Ohio, as well as elsewhere in the nation. Since 2011, 20 counties in Ohio have been confirmed to have white-nose syndrome. Ohio is home to 2 known larger hibernacula which are estimated to have a large representation of Ohio s winter bat population. Both of these hibernacula were confirmed with white-nose syndrome, the larger in 2012 and the smaller in 2011. During our winter 2014 hibernacula surveys, significant declines were observed in the bat populations these declines could also have an impact upon Ohio s summer bat populations. In order to assess project areas for presence or probable absence of the Indiana bat, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) developed the USFWS 2015 Range-wide Indiana Bat Summer Survey Guidelines (April 2015). This protocol can also be used for northern long-eared bat presence/probable absence surveys for the 2015 field season. The DOW has determined that mist-netting surveys remain the most appropriate survey methodology to assess the presence of Indiana bats and northern long-eared bats in Ohio 1. According to the range-wide guidelines, net surveys shall incorporate either nine net nights per square 0.5 kilometer (123 acres) of project area, or four net nights per kilometer for linear projects. The USFWS established range wide survey dates are May 15 to August 15, however the 2015 protocol acknowledges that these survey dates may be adjusted by state wildlife agencies and USFWS Field Offices. Thus in efforts to set timeframes for mist-netting that are biologically justified, that will maximize the potential of capture, and will minimize any negative effect to the bats, the DOW and USFWS OH Field Office has examined these survey dates. Due to the presence of WNS in Ohio, the DOW and USFWS OH Field Office has determined that delaying netting activities until June 1 will provide additional recovery time for bats affected by WNS. For the 2015 summer survey season, all mist-netting in Ohio should be conducted between June 1 and August 15. 1 Bat survey protocol requirements for pre and post-construction at wind facilities are not included here, but described in detail at: http://wildlife.ohiodnr.gov/species-and-habitats/fish-and-wildlife-research/wildlife-and-wind-energy.
In effort to clarify questions, below is a summary of reminders for bat permittees working in Ohio, please note that these are not all-inclusive of your permit conditions. This document is for guidance and does not supersede any and all requirements listed on your permit. All permit conditions must be strictly adhered to for permits to be valid and for renewal of permits beyond the existing year. Before Field Season: Anyone surveying bats in the state of Ohio must obtain a federal permit (Endangered Species Permit), as well as a state scientific collection permit. Please note that for current federal bat permit holders, an amendment to add the northern long-eared bat will not be necessary for the 2015 summer field season. If you are a current DOW permit holder, in order for your permit to remain valid through March 15th you must submit your report(s) from the previous summer. The reports must include an electronic copy the project report AND your data entered into the Division of Wildlife s Wildlife Diversity Bat Excel Spreadsheet which was provided to you with your permit (attached). If you do not need to renew your DOW permit, but need to amend (e.g., addition of a subpermittee), apply for this early and include all amendments at once. Request bat bands at least a week in advance of needing them. Bat bands can be obtained by emailing Jennifer with how many bands are needed, sizes, and an address to mail them to. Bands will not be issued until your permits are valid. We have 2 sizes of bands 2.4 mm and 4.2 mm. The 2.4 mm split metal bat ring made of aluminum alloy is suitable for banding small bats. This band must be placed on all captured Indiana bats and northern long-eared bats, but may also be used for little brown (Myotis lucifugus), and tri-colored (Perimyotis subflavus) bats. The larger 4.2 mm band is suitable for eastern red (Lasiurus borealis), silver-haired (Lasionycteris noctivagans), big brown (Eptesicus fuscus), and hoary (Lasiurus cinereus) bats. You must band all Indiana bats and northern long-eared bats, therefore you should not be in the field without at least the 2.4 mm sized band. Your DOW permit consists of 2 ODNR Division of Wildlife documents a Scientific Collector (Wild Animal) Permit and an endangered species letter signed by the Chief of the Division of Wildlife in addition to your USFWS Indiana bat permit, both ODNR DOW documents must be obtained prior to field work and kept with you and all your sub-permittees during field work. During Field Season Prior to initiation of field work (a minimum of 2 weeks in advance), permittees must provide USFWS AND DOW (Agencies contacts: Angela and Jennifer) with a proposed study plan of their bat-netting activities. Study plans must include a list of permit holders (including subcontracted permit holders) that will be assisting with the survey. Proposed plans must be reviewed and approved (in the form of email letters from Jennifer and Angela) before ANY surveys take place. Study plans must specify objectives, location details, dates of proposed work, and all other relevant details. With the significant volume of surveys being conducted in Ohio it is unlikely proposals provided with less than 2 week in advance will be reviewed and approved in time for the field work.
You must strictly adhere to the current WNS Decontamination Protocol (current version can be found at https://www.whitenosesyndrome.org/topics/decontamination). Clothing, boots, gear, equipment, should all be thoroughly deconned between nights as well as between netting sites. Only individuals who are specifically named on the DOW endangered species letter portion of the permit and on the corresponding federal bat permit may conduct surveys. Trained assistants may work on permitted bat activities under the direct and on-site supervision of a named permittee. All bat IDs must be verified by a named permittee. If an Indiana bat and/or northern long-eared bat is captured, the permittee shall notify Angela AND Jennifer within 48 hours. Please call Jennifer s cell (419) 602-3141 and follow-up with details in an email to Angela and Jennifer. Reports of Indiana bats and northern long-eared bats should include specific information such as spatial location of capture, band information (all Indiana bats and northern long-eared bats must be banded), radio-transmitter frequency information, sex, reproductive status, age of individual. If individuals are tracked, provide frequent updates on status of individual as well as spatial coordinates of roost locations as they are known. If visible signs of WNS are observed on any bats, you also have 48 hours to report this to Jennifer. Please email pictures of suspect WNS-cases of bats, capture details and individual s biological details (species, sex, age, etc.). If you have a bat band recovery, please report the details of capture (location, species, etc.) as soon as possible to Jennifer within 48 hours. After Field Season By January 31, you must submit your annual report to the appropriate USFWS offices in accordance with the conditions listed in your federal permit. In addition to the annual report, you must submit a completed 2015 USFWS (OH) spreadsheet(s) to Angela for all survey sites in Ohio in electronic format. Be sure to include data for sites even those where no bats were captured. By March 15th, you must submit your final DOW report(s) from the previous summer. The reports must include an electronic copy the project report AND your data entered into the Division of Wildlife s Wildlife Diversity Bat Excel Spreadsheet which was provided to you with your permit. Electronic summaries emailed during the field season are NOT considered as full compliance of this reporting requirement.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS What is ODNR-DOW and USFWS OH Field Office current Indiana bat and northern long-eared bat protocol? For presence/absence surveys, follow the USFWS 2015 Range-wide Indiana Bat Summer Survey Guidelines (April 2015). The DOW has determined that mist-netting surveys remain the most appropriate survey methodology to assess the presence of Indiana bats and northern long-eared bats in Ohio 1. According to the range-wide guidelines, net surveys shall incorporate either nine net nights per square 0.5 kilometer of project area, or four net nights per kilometer for linear projects. For the 2015 summer survey season, all mist netting in Ohio should be conducted between June 1 and August 15. 1 Bat survey protocol requirements for pre and post-construction at wind facilities are not included here, but described in detail at: http://wildlife.ohiodnr.gov/species-and-habitats/fish-and-wildlife-research/wildlife-and-wind-energy. When does the ODNR-DOW s Indiana Bat Survey Protocol have to be conducted? These protocols should be used anytime Indiana bat and/or northern long-eared bat summer presence/probable absence assessments are conducted in the state of Ohio. Conducting acoustic surveys will not meet the ODNR-DOW requirements. Projects with a federal or state nexus that are being proposed within a known Indiana bat and/or northern long-eared bat capture buffer will need to proceed to federal and state endangered species consultation, however additional survey work may be beneficial to gather additional information on bat usage of the project area. Furthermore, any project with a federal or state nexus proposing to cut trees within 5-miles of a known Indiana bat hibernaculum during March 15- November 15, would also trigger federal and state consultation for federal and state endangered species. Any project with a federal or state nexus that is not within a known capture record (with the exception of wind facilities see above link to wind protocols) being proposed in Ohio which are proposing to cut trees from April 1-September 31, may be surveyed for presence/absence following the range-wide guidance for mist-netting between June 1 and August 15. Some take of the northern longeared bat may be exempted under the Service s Interim 4(d) rule. Please contact the USFWS Ohio Field Office for assistance in determining if the take exemptions apply to a project. All projects with a federal nexus that may affect a federally listed species, even those where a take exemption applies, are still required to undergo consultation with the USFWS. What should net surveys incorporate? Net surveys shall now incorporate either nine net nights per square 0.5 kilometer (123 acres) of project area, or four net nights per kilometer for linear projects. How long are the results of the net surveys valid for an assessment of an area? 2 years What happens if a company conducted a survey for a proposed development project in Ohio during 2010, 2011, or 2012 outside of the Ohio timeframe (June 1 - July 31) but within the federal timeframe (May 15-August 15)? If the project has been completed no further surveys will be required. If the survey were conducted in 2010, 2011, or 2012 they will be beyond the 2 year timeframe mentioned above and will need to conduct a net survey again from June 1 to August 15.
If the netting occurred during 2013 or 2014 as per every ODNR-DOW bat permit, the bat biologist should have surveyed during June 1- August 15. If a company elects to conduct an acoustic survey instead of netting, will this meet the ODNR-DOW requirements? No, the company will have to net if proposed project is in Ohio for ODNR-DOW requirements. Acoustic surveys conducted from May 15 - August 15 for the USFWS, WILL NOT meet the ODNR- DOW requirements. How many net nights are required to determine presence/absence for linear projects? Four net nights are required per kilometer for linear projects. How many net nights are required to determine presence/absence for non-linear projects? Nine net nights per square 0.5 kilometer (123 acres) of project area are now required in Ohio. When can surveys to assess presence of Indiana bats and/or northern long-eared bats in Ohio occur? In Ohio, mist-net surveys may only be conducted from June 1 through August 15. Can I net bats outside of June 1 - August 15 in Ohio? If you are assessing presence of Indiana bats and/or northern long-eared bats, no. However, with written pre-approval as per your ODNR-DOW and federal permits, bat netting for other purposes (e.g., to examine migratory species or to assess WNS impacts) may be acceptable. Again, any netting outside of the June 1 -August 15 timeframe will not be used in Ohio to assess the potential presence of Indiana bats and/or northern long-eared bats. Where do we get bands? If you need bands, send Jennifer Norris (jennifer.norris@dnr.state.oh.us) an email with your current ODNR permit number, how many bands in each size 2.4 and 4.2 you will need this season, and a current address to ship you the bands. Do I have to band every bat? No, currently this is optional. However, you are required as per your state permit to band all Indiana bats and northern long-eared bats captured.