Forwarded with permission
Carol
----- Forwarded Message -----
From: Dave West <d...@bellatlantic.net>
To: varl...@listserv.vt.edu
Sent: Thursday, March 6, 2014 2:55 PM
Subject: Potential Listing of Tri-Colored Bats as endangered, and the possible
ramifications
There has been concern raised about the potential federal listing of
the Tri-Colored Bat (TCB) as threatened or endangered and the perceived
ramifications of that should it occur. Cavers, in my opinion, should not
panic, not should they ignore, this possibility, which is sought by the
"Center for Biological Diversity" (CBD).
First, we need to recognize that the TCB has been hit very hard by White
Nose Syndrome (WNS). As responsible cavers, we should care about this.
If you are not a responsible caver, go ahead and panic now. The fear is
that if the TCBs are recognized as endangered, that all caves will be
closed, a stated goal of CBD. There are many reasons this will not
happen, even if the species is listed as endangered. First, and this is
part of why the first attempt at listing the species failed, it is not
known how many there actually are, because counts have not been
uniformly conducted for the species, except as incidental to counts for
other threatened or endangered species. The species is believed to be
ubiquitous, and it is not known what percentage of the total population
has been affected. It is only known that where WNS has been observed and
mortality has been documented, the species has been hard hit. Second, it
will not be possible to gate all caves where the species may now or
might once have been present. Many of these caves are on private
property. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife would be hard pressed to pursue
court action against that many landowners, and since they do not know
which caves are "preferred" by TCBs, they will not know which ones
should be a priority. They will rely on responsible cavers to help them
find out where their priorities should be, both on private and on public
lands. And once that is established, they will rely on responsible
cavers to assist them in monitoring compliance with any closures that
occur. At least, that will be the case if we work with the agencies
instead of giving them the usual knee jerk whine of don't close my
favorite cave. That only works against us in the long run. Lastly, to
justify a closing, it will need to be demonstrated that the species is
currently residing in the cave. Cavers will be needed to assist in
making that determination. They will not be able to justify closing a
cave in the "hope" that bats they do not know might have been there
might return. Fish and Wildlife will not support such action, even with
threats from the CBD, because the law simply won't support it, and the
government can't afford it.
The agencies are not really anxious to close the caves, and look to the
caving community for assistance. When they do close caves in general, it
is because they do not perceive any alternative. Let's try to provide
those alternatives in a responsible manner.
--
Dave West
Eastern Operations Manager
Cave Research Foundation
d...@bellatlantic.net dave.w...@us.army.mil
410-366-5038(H) 443-865-1209(C)
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