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Forest Management & Bats

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D a n i e l A . R . T a y l o r

More than 1,100 species of bats account for almost a quarter
of all mammal species.
Bats are exceptionally vulnerable to extinction, in part
because they are the slowest-reproducing mammals on Earth
for their size, most producing only one young annually.
Contrary to popular misconceptions, bats are not blind, do
not become entangled in human hair and seldom transmit
disease to other animals or humans.
Bats are the only mammals capable of true flight. Most bat
species use an extremely sophisticated biological sonar called
echolocation to navigate and hunt for food. Some bats can
detect an object as fine as a human hair in total darkness.
Worldwide, bats are primary predators of night-flying
insects. A single little brown myotis, a common resident of
North American forests, can consume 1,000 mosquito-sized
insects in just one hour.
All but four of the 47 species found in the United States and
Canada feed solely on insects, including many destructive
agricultural pests. The remaining species feed on nectar,
pollen and the fruit of cacti and agaves and play an impor-
tant role in pollination and seed dispersal in southwestern
deserts.
The 20 million Mexican free-tailed bats at Bracken Cave,
Texas, eat approximately 200 tons of insects nightly.
A colony of 150 big brown bats, which often roost in tree
cavities, can eat enough cucumber beetles each summer to
eliminate up to 33 million of their rootworm larvae, a major
agricultural pest.
Desert ecosystems rely on nectar-feeding bats as primary
pollinators of giant cacti, including the famous organ pipe
and saguaro of Arizona.
Bat droppings in caves support whole ecosystems of unique organisms, including bacteria useful in detoxifying wastes,
improving detergents and producing gasohol and antibiotics.
More than half of American bat species are in decline or already listed as endangered. Losses are occurring at alarming
rates worldwide.
During cold weather, many bats hibernate in caves, mines or other sites that provide stable, cool temperatures. Others
migrate to warmer climates, sometimes traveling up to a thousand miles or more.
For their size, bats are among the world’s longest-lived mammals. The little brown myotis, a common forest bat, has a
documented life span of up to 34 years in the wild.
B
AT
B
A S I C S

Because more than half of the non-industrial forest lands in the United States are privately
owned, forest landowners play a critical role in the stewardship of our wildlife resources.This
publication will introduce you to a group of wildlife that is particularly vital to forest ecosys-
tems, but also one of
the least-studied and most-misunderstood:
bats. It will
demonstrate how
basic forest-management practices that improve forest health and productivity can also main-
tain and enhance habitat for these fascinating and beneficial animals.
As primary predators of night-flying insects, bats play an essential role in maintaining forest
health. Many bats can
eat nearly their own body weight in insects each night. These include
moths, beetles
and other destructive pests. Although
long neglected in
forest-management
planning, bats are
essential to the health of fo
rest ecosystems, fulfilling the same roles by night
that birds do by day. Helping bats is a wise investment in America’s forests.
© 2006, Bat Conservation International
A c k n o w l e d g e m e n t s
This publication was produced by Bat Conservation International, with the generous financial and editorial sup-
port of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service. The text
was reviewed by T. Bently Wigley of the National Council for Air and Stream Improvement; Darren A. Miller of
Weyerhaeuser Company; Dennis L. Krusac of the USDA-Forest Service; Edward B. Arnett and Merlin D. Tuttle
of Bat Conservation International; and Ed Hackett, USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service’s Wildlife
Habitat Management Institute. Valuable suggestions also were received from Charlie Rewa of the USDA-Natural
Resources Conservation Service’s Wildlife Habitat Management Institute. The publication was designed by Jason
Huerta of Bat Conservation International.
Daniel A. R. Taylor, a Bat Conservation International conservation biologist, is coordinator of the North
American Bat Conservation Partnership.
D a n i e l A . R . T a y l o r

TA BL E O F C O NT E N TS
Habitat Needs of Bats
……………….3
Roosting Requirements
………………3
DeadTrees………………….3
Living Trees
…………………4
Forest Management and Bat Habitat .
………..4
Roosting Trees
………………..5
Foraging Habitat
………………..6
Table: Forest Management Practices .
………..7
Table: Timber & Wildlife Stand Improvements. . .
…..8
Water Resources.
………………..8
Other Resource Needs
………………1 0
Geologic Resources
……………….1 0
Artificial Roosts and Other Human Structures
……..1 0
ASamplingofForestBats……………..1 1
Sources of Assistance
……………….1 4

Forest Management & Bats |
3
H
abitats required by bats have three basic compo-
nents: re s o u rces for roosting, foraging and
drinking. Almost all North American bats rely
on forests for survival.
More than half roost in dead and dying trees (snags),
especially beneath loose bark, in tree cavities and hollows
or in crevices left by lightning strikes. Others roost exclu-
sively in the foliage of living trees. In the western United
States, the long-eared myotis (
Myotis evotis
) is known to
roost under exfoliating bark on stumps and downed logs.
These roosts are required for rearing young (maternity
roosts), as migratory stopover sites and occasionally for
hibernation. The remaining species use forests as foraging
habitat or movement corridors, while roosting in caves,
old mines, cliff-face crevices, rock piles and human-made
structures such as old buildings, bridges and cisterns,
which are often located in forested envi-
ronments. Bats also use many of these
features as night roosts where they can
rest and digest their food during nightly
foraging bouts.
Bats forage along forest edges, over
riparian areas (land adjacent to and
influenced by bodies of water), along for-
est roads and trails and in natural forest
gaps or harvest-created openings. F
eed-
ing strategies vary
greatly among forest-
dwelling species. Some forage around
ground-level shrubs, while
others prefer
to forage under the tree canopy, in the
canopy or above it.
Bats need clean, pooled, open bodies
of fresh water that are large enough to
enable drinking on the wing and without
obstructions fr
om vegetation, fencing or
other objects.
R o o s t i n g R e q u i r e m e n t s
Some forest bats roost exclusively in the foliage of living
trees; these are often r
eferred to as “tree
bats.” Other
species roost under loose, peeling bark or crevices of dead
trees. Others will also use cavities in healthy trees or in
those that are damaged or dying. Some bats, such as the
big brown bat (
Eptesicus fuscus
) and silver-haired bat
(
Lasionycteris noctivagans
), seem to use cavities in either
living or dead trees.
Most forest-bat species move frequently between
roost trees. This is especially true of maternity colonies,
although bachelor (all-male) colonies also exhibit this
behavior. This roost switching may be an effort to avoid
predators or parasites or to seek a warmer or cooler roost.
For snag-roosting bats, switching could also be tied to the
temporary nature of dead and dying trees: If a roost tree
becomes unstable or falls, the bats will already know of
an alternative roost. It is not uncommon for bats to
return to the same roost tree or group of trees in the same
patch of forest in successive years.
Roost trees are often located along the edges of forests
or in open forest
stands, where they
g e n e r al l y re c e i ve
greater solar heat-
ing and have a
l e s s – o b s t r u c t e d
f l i g h t a p p ro a c h .
In landscapes
with steeper topo-
graphy and cold-
air drainage, some
evidence suggests
that upland and
r i d g e – t o p t re e s
may be used as
roosts more fre-
quently than those in valleys and canyon bottoms.
Dead Trees
The structural characteristics of a dead tree – height,
diameter, stage of decay (“decay class”) – and its position
in the stand and on the landscape appear to be the most
H
A B I TAT
N
E E D S O F
B
AT S
Snags retained in clear-cut harvest
units provide immediate and future
roosting habitat for bats.
A diversity of snag-decay classes and sizes should be main-
tained across the landscape. Retaining snags in clumps
increases their use by bats.
Hoary bats prefer tree roosts along the
edges of forest stands.
© MERLIN D. TUTTLE, BCI / 0001206

important factors in determining its suitability as a roost
site. These factors affect the roost’s temperature, an im-
portant component in roost selection. The species of the
tree is important only as it relates to these structural
attributes. Tree species that are more susceptible to fun-
gal infestations attract cavity excavators such as wood-
peckers. Also, those that retain bark for longer periods are
more likely to provide appropriate roosting spaces.
While the habitat needs of forest bats vary by species,
geographic area and climate, bats
that roost under the
bark or in crevices and cavities of dead trees frequently
select the largest available snags, which often extend
above the forest canopy. This is especially true for roosts
of maternity colonies, since larger snags better retain the
sun’s warmth, which benefits the pups. Males often roost
alone or in bachelor colonies and appear to use a wider
range of snag sizes. Maternity colonies of more than 500
bats have been recorded emerging from cavities or under
the exfoliating bark of snags in both eastern and western
forests, demonstrating just how important a single dead
tree can be to maintaining local bat populations. The
majority of snag-roosting bats prefer trees in the earlier
stages of decay [
Figure 1
], with an ample amount of
loose, peeling bark.
Living Trees
Some of the forest bats that roost under bark, in cavities
or in lightning-strike crevices in dead trees also use these
same features in healthy living trees or those that are dam-
aged or dying. For example, the evening bat (
N yc t i c e i u s
h u m e ra l i s
) of the southeastern United States is often
found roosting in cavities
i n l i v i n g f o rk – t o p p e d
loblolly pine trees in both
managed and unmanaged
f o rest stands. In bottom-
land hardwood forests of
the southeastern U.S., the
R a f i n e s q u e’s big-eared bat
(
C o ry n o r h i n u s ra f i n e s q u i i
)
and southeastern myo t i s
(
M y o t i s a u s t r o r i p a r i u s
)
form maternity colonies
in the hollow trunks of
large, living gum and
beech trees with basal cav-
ities. In parts of their
range, these bats have also
been found roosting un-
der bridges and in old buildings and cisterns.
Foliage-roosting (or “tree”) bats roost exclusively in
the foliage of a wide variety of living trees, both evergreen
and deciduous. They often choose dominant or co-
dominant, large-crowned trees, roosting in locations that
offer suitable temperatures, humidity and protection
from bad weather and predators. Tree bats often have two
to four pups and roost singly or in small groups. Tree bats
from northern regions migrate south, where they often
hibernate beneath leaf litter on forest floors in winter.
Some tree bats, such as the Seminole bat (
Lasiurus semi-
nolus
) and northern yellow bat (
Lasiurus
interme
dius
),
often roost in clumps of Spanish moss, and northern and
southern yellow bats (
Lasiurus ega
) will roost beneath the
dead, hanging fronds of fan palms. The eastern red bat
(
Lasiurus bor
ealis
) roosts in a variety of tree species and
forest habitats.
Forest Management and Bat Habitat
Fo rest-management practices such as logging or pre s c r i b e d
burning can have positive or negative effects on bats by
altering the distribution and abundance of living and dead
t rees used for roosting or the number of forest openings
and edge habitat used for foraging. With proper planning
4
| Forest Management & Bats
Forests can be successfully managed for both wood
products and bat habitat, as long as adequate roosts,
foraging habitat and water sources are provided across
the landscape.
A female eastern red bat with two pups. Red bats roost in the
foliage of a variety of trees and are known to hibernate in
leaf litter on the forest floor.

and implementation, for-
est health can be main-
tained or improved while
p roviding a sustainable
s u p p l y o f f i b e r f o r f o r e s t
p roducts. Non-timber va l-
ues can be protected, and
b a t – roosting an d – f or ag i n g
habitat and drinking re-
s o u rces can be enhanced,
g reatly benefiting bat pop-
u l a t i o n s .
Roosting Trees
Roosts are often consid-
ered the most impor
tant
habitat component, and
roost switching appears to
be essential for most species. The most important action
forest landowners can take to maintain bat populations is
to provide a continuous suppl
y of potential roost trees.
These include snags in various stages
of deterioration (especially those in
early stages of decay), hollow trees and
the green and dying trees that can pro-
vide future snags. Dozens of other
wildlife species that depend on dead
and dying trees for habitat will also
benefit.
In addition to the following re c o m-
mendations, most state fore s t ry agen-
cies, county extension offices and state
or federal wildlife management agen-
cies can provide guidelines and re c o m-
mend practices for maintaining snags,
g reen trees and other forest
stru c t u re s
that are tailored to local conditions. It
is important to note that the U.S.
Occupational Safety and Health Ad-
ministration (OSHA) has strict guide-
l i n e s r e g a r d i n g w h e r e s n a g s m a y b e
retained on intensively managed fore s t s
due to the inherent danger of operating
m a c h i n e ry around dead trees. T h e s e
guidelines must be incorporated into
a n y s n a g m a i n t e n a n c e a n d p ro t e c t i o n
p r o g r a m .
How Many?
The exact number of roost trees needed to
maintain forest-bat populations is unclear and likely
varies by forest type and region. Bats that use live trees
can find roosts in most forests, but managers need to
ensure that enough dead and dying
trees are left for the
species that depend on them. Bats need multiple roosts,
and because snags are a short-lived resource (especially in
the East), the availability of suitable roost trees for snag-
roosting bats fluctuates ov
er time. Federally managed
forests and many state forestry regulations specify a min-
imum number of trees to leave for wildlife, but forest
owners should, whenever possible, leave as many dead,
damaged, dying and cull (defective) live trees as possible
and as safety and silvicultural objectives permit.
Ol d e r, more mature forest stands produce more snags,
so well-distributed, variably sized patches of mature and
o l d – g rowth f o r e s t
should be maintained where possible.
Also, some stands could be managed through extended
h a rvest rotations. Careful management is re q u i red to pro-
vide snags of sufficient numbers and size to ensure the
long-term we l f a reof bat populations. Although
deve l o p e d
for the Pacific No rt h west, the DecAID De c a yed Wo o d
Advisor (see
S o u rc e s o f As s i s t a n c e
)is one of the most thor-
o u g h re s o u rce s a va i l a b l e
for snag and wildlife
l e a ve – t ree planning in
managed forests and
can be adapted to other
regions. Because our
k n o w l e d g e o f h o w
many roost trees are
needed is limited for
many species and
regions of the country,
these re c o m m e n d a t i o n s
should be taken as sug-
gestions rather than
strict guidelines.
Which ones?
T h e
structure of a
snag is
m o re important than
its species, although
some tree species make
better snags than oth-
ers. E
mphasize
larger-
diameter snags because
t h e y g e n e r a l l y r e m a i n
s t a n d i n g a n d re t a i n
b a rk longer and sup-
port a greater variety of
bats and other wildlife
than smaller snags. In
general, retain snags in the early stages of decay (
Figure 1
,
Classes 1 and 2) rather than more-decayed ones, tall and
large-diameter snags rather than smaller ones, and snags
with more bark cover than those with little cover. In
conifer-dominated and mixed-conifer stands, leave as
many hardwoods as possible that have natural or wood-
pecker-excavated cavities.
Forest Management & Bats |
5
Class 1 Class 2 Class 3
Large Class 2 snags located
within a gap in the forest pro-
vide ideal roost sites for many
species of forest-dwelling bats. A
maternity colony of long-legged
myotis uses this snag.
A typical Class 3 snag retained in a
clear-cut harvest unit. Such snags are
short-lived and normally offer less habi-
tat value to bats than Class 1 or 2 snags.
Figure 1: Classes of snags

W h e r e ?
Snags should be well distributed across the land-
scape, including along drainage bottoms, upland slopes
and ridge tops. Pre f e rence should generally be given to
maintaining snags along forest-stand edges and other open
a reas where they re c e i ve more sunlight. When practicing
e ven-aged management, such as clearcuts, shelterw o o d s
and seed-tree cuts, and where silvicultural and logging
safety objectives are not compromised, consider leaving
snags either evenly distributed across harvest units or in
patches. Leaving snags in patches interspersed with gre e n
t rees helps keep them from being blown over by high
winds, as will leaving them in locations with pro t e c t i o n
f rom pre vailing winds. This also makes it easier to conduct
management operations. In landscapes that are intensive-
ly managed for timber, snags can be maintained primarily
in streamside management zones, forested corridors and
other less-intensively managed habitats. In conifero u s
f o rests, foliage-roosting bats that prefer broadleaf decidu-
ous trees often are concentrated within riparian zo n e s ,
since they usually contain more broadleaf ve g e t a t i o n .
Green tree retention:
Natural fall rates will eventually
reduce snag numbers unless new snags develop naturally
or are created. Leave as many large green or cull trees as
possible as “leave trees” to become future snags. Cull trees
include those with broken tops, forked tops, wounded
areas or other defects that reduce their commercial value.
For example, recent research in Mississippi and Georgia
found that evening bats use fork-topped pine trees in
thinned-pine plantations.
Snag creation:
In stands where snags are limited or
absent, one option is to alter or kill living trees to create
snags. This allows the number of snags created and their
locations to be chosen by th
e forest mana
ger. Methods
for snag creation include girdling, topping with chain
saws, injecting with herbicides and the use of mechanical
harvesting equipment (fellers). Creating snags can miti-
gate the loss of natural habitat,
but retaining existing
structures is the
most cost-effective and ecologically
sound method.
Foraging Habitat
Bats feed on a variety of night-flying insects, catching
them in the air or picking them off vegetation. Most bats
prefer to hunt in small
to medium forest open-
ings or gaps, like those
created by timber har-
vests, roads and water
courses or by lakes and
ponds. Bats often for-
age along the vertical or
horizontal edges where
these habitats or differ-
ent-aged forest stands
meet and along forest
corridors and buffer
strips.
Sm a l l e r, m o r e m a –
n e u verable bats, such as
the northern long-eare d
m yotis (
Myotis septen-
t r i o n a l i s
)andsmall-
footed myotis (
Myo t i s
l e i b i i
)intheeastand
t h e l o n g- e a re d myo t i s
in the west, can forage
in cluttered ve g e t a t i o n
in the forest understory
and in ve ry small
fore s t
gaps. Larger, faster-
flying and less maneu-
verable bats, such as the
h o a r y b a t (
L a s i u r u s
c i n e re u s
), often forage
6
| Forest Management & Bats
Timber-harvesting machinery
, such as this feller-buncher,
can be used to create snags by topping live trees.
These Class 2 snags positioned on the edge of a gap in
the forest provide excellent roosting and foraging habi-
tat for bats. These natural openings can be simulated
with group-selection harvest techniques.

Forest Management & Bats |
7
Even-aged management:
Begins with the
complete, or nearly complete, removal of
existing timber to create a new stand with
young trees of approximately the same age.
Small stands of different age classes can form
a diverse assemblage of habitats.
Clearcuts:
Harvest of essentially all trees in a
stand.
Creates edge habitat for foraging. Smaller, irregular-shaped units
are better for bats than larger blocks. Flush of herbaceous growth
following timber removal can provide rich food sources for insects
preyed on by bats. Snags and green or cull reserve trees left stand-
ing can add value as potential roosts.
Shelterwood
and
Seedtree cut:
Removal of
most trees in a stand, leaving only those needed to
produce seed and/or provide shade for regenerat-
ing a new stand. Overstory trees are usually
removed after regeneration is established. More
trees are left with shelterwood harvests than with
seedtree cuts.
Like recent clearcuts, these create edge habitat, foraging space and a
food source for insects. Trees left on-site provide some mature for-
est structure until they are harvested. Value to bats and other wildlife
can be greatly increased if adequate snags and green trees are left
and if overstory trees are retained through the next harvest.
Uneven-aged management:
I n d i v i d u a l
and small groups of mature trees are harvest-
ed, leaving a variety of tree sizes and ages.
Uneven-aged management creates small
canopy gaps similar to those formed by natu-
ral forest disturbances.
Group selection:
Small groups of trees removed
for regeneration of new age classes; width of cut
rarely exceeds twice the height of the mature trees.
Moderately shade-intolerant species can benefit
from this harvesting method because larger open-
ings are created.
Promotes diverse forest structure, characterized by mosaic of mature
forest-roosting habitat and small to medium gaps for foraging, with
substantial increases in herbaceous vegetation favorable to produc-
tion of bats’ insect prey.
Single-tree selection:
Individual trees of all
size classes removed more or less uniformly
throughout the stand to increase growth of remain-
ing trees and provide space for regeneration.
Maintains diverse forest structure and roost trees, while creating
small gaps and enhancing edge habitat for foraging. Promotes
diverse vegetation structure and some increases in herbaceous
vegetation, favorable to production of bats’ insect prey.
Prescribed fire:
Prescribed burning for site preparation after harvest is conducted
to eliminate undesirable vegetation and increase availability of soil nutrients for tree
seedlings.
Increases herbaceous and shrub growth that can increase abundance and diversity
of insect prey. Care must be taken to prevent the loss of snags and green-reserve
(wildlife) trees left as roosting habitat.
Herbicides:
Selective herbicide use may control undesirable vegetation. Plant
response varies depending on the herbicide, time of application, rate and forest con-
ditions.
Herbicides can be useful, often when combined with prescribed fire, for restoring
early-succession plant communities and controlling undesirable vegetation. In the
southeastern U.S., they have been used to promote the development of herbaceous
vegetation, which can increase the abundance of insect prey and open up foraging
space for bats in stand interiors by controlling woody stems.
Mechanical treatments:
Shearing, raking, windrowing and bedding are all
mechanical methods used to clear debris and prepare soil seedbeds for tree planting.
Increases herbaceous and shrub growth that can increase the abundance and diver-
sity of insect prey.
HARVEST
SITE PREPARATION
Management Regime Treatment Description
Treatment Description
a b ove the forest canopy, in larger forest openings and along the edges, as well as over clearings,
wetlands or rive r s .
Bat-foraging activity is often concentrated in riparian zones
and in gaps in
older, more-diverse
forest stands. Riparian habitat is especially important because it provides drinking water and high-
quality foraging habitat, as well as high-quality roosting habitat in more level terrain where cold-air
drainage is not a factor. Beaver ponds provide high-quality bat habitat that combines drinking, for-
aging and roosting r
esources. B
ats often follow corridors of forest when traveling from roosts to
feeding areas.
Fo rest-management practices that create small forest openings may foster development of suitable
foraging habitat and may even enhance roosts located along forest gaps and edges. Bats often forage
along edges between intact forests and cut areas. Smaller harvest areas increase edge habitat per unit
a rea, promoting plant and insect diversity that is beneficial to bats and other wildlife. Howe ve r, some
bat species cannot forage in the middle of large (at least 120 acres [48.5 hectares]) regenerating stands.
Ro o s t – t ree loss should be minimized when creating openings so that the loss of roosts doesn’t offset the
benefits of increased foraging habitat. The following table lists some commonly used fore s t – m a n a g e-
ment practices and their potential benefits to bat habitat.
Crevices in trees are used as roosts by a
number of forest-bat species. An endan-
gered Indiana myotis is using this one.

8
| Forest Management & Bats
Thinning:
Thinning removes weak or sup-
pressed trees and opens growing space for
remaining healthy trees. Thinning can be
used to remove trees from the lower or upper
crown level or to increase spacing and
growth in forest plantations, and may be
conducted at different times and intensities
depending on the silvicultural system and
objectives.
Thinning benefits bats by increasing flight space in
the stand and sunlight to the stand floor, which
increases herbaceous growth for bats’ insect prey.
Heavier thinning (e.g., 150-200 trees/acre [370-
500 per hectare] in southern pine) is preferred for
habitat improvement.
Riparian habitat management:
Maintaining the integrity of riparian zones
in managed forests is a critical aspect of
good forest stewardship. Vegetative com-
munities and landscapes associated with
water are the most important habitats for
most bat species. Although these features
represent a relatively small proportion of
the landscape, they often provide more
concentrated sources of shelter, food and
water than drier, upland forest habitats. In
coniferous forests, broadleaf deciduous
trees are often concentrated in the riparian
zone, providing roosts for the foliage-
roosting bats that prefer them.
Riparian areas are one of the highest quality for-
aging habitats available to bats. If compatible with
other riparian-habitat management objectives,
selective harvest that minimizes disturbance can
enhance riparian bat-foraging habitat. The width
of streamside zones affects understory develop-
ment within these zones. Narrow zones will allow
sunlight penetration and subsequent develop-
ment of a dense midstory layer that may be unfa-
vorable to bats and other wildlife species.
All state forestry agencies have Best Management
Practices or standards and guidelines that
address local riparian buffer area/stream manage-
ment zone management. However, these guide-
lines are designed to protect water quality and
may recommend narrower streamside zones than
would be most beneficial to wildlife.
Forest corridors, leave strips, buffer
strips:
Includes strips of unmanaged for-
est between managed stands, windbreaks,
shelterbelts and other plantings.
In addition to providing edge habitat for foraging,
forest corridors and buffer strips can be used as
travel corridors and may provide roost trees.
Prescribed fire:
Used to reduce forest
fuels to decrease the risk of wildfire and for
ecological restoration. Prescribed fire can
effect changes in plant community compo-
sition, tree densities, stand structure and
soil and hydrological conditions. Most pre-
scribed burns are carried out under cool,
moist conditions to reduce the chance of
wildfire.
Bats may benefit from fire by the creation of new
roost trees through direct or indirect fire mortali-
ty (via disease, insect or fungal attack). Fire can
also decrease forest tree density and increase
openings, thereby improving foraging space and
travel corridors, allow more light to reach and
warm roost trees, and increase insect prey diver-
sity and abundance by increasing herbaceous
and shrub growth.
Prescribed burning can have short-term detri-
mental effects on bats by eliminating some snags
and stumps used for roosting. Raked firebreaks
can be created around snags, or the bases
sprayed with retardant, to protect them.
Prescribed burns and fires occurring when bats
are rearing young (April-July) or in deep hiberna-
tion (mid-winter) can have negative impacts on
local populations. In the southeastern U.S., red
bats and Seminole bats sometimes hibernate
among leaf litter and may be unable to escape
burns conducted on very cold days. However,
these short-term losses must be weighed against
the long-term benefits to the ecosystem.
TIMBER AND WILDLIFE STAND IMPROVEMENTS
Treatment Description
W a t e r R e s o u r c e s
When active, all but the most desert-adapted bat
species must have daily access to clean water for drink-
ing, especially during lactation and periods of incre a s e d
a c t i v i t y. Se veral species will also arouse to drink during
hibernation. Some bat species usually roost near or for-
age over water. Gray myotis (
Myotis grisescens
), little
b rown myotis (
Myotis lucifugus
), Yuma myotis (
Myotis
yumanensis
), southeastern myotis and eastern pip-
i s t relles (
Pipistrellus subfl
avus
) prefer to forage ove r
lakes, rivers and ponds. Eastern red bats, hoary bats,
Indiana myotis and big brown bats are known to use
w a t e rways fo r tra ve l an d fo r ag i n g .
Ponds, seasonal pools and bogs and meadows
with pooled, standing water offer important drinking
and foraging resources for forest bats. Along with
riparian zones, beaver ponds are among the most
valuable aquatic resour
ces, as they provide drinking,
roosting and foraging habitat in close pro
ximity. In
Bats typically drink on the fly. This western small-footed
myotis (
Myotis ciliolabrum
) has just swooped down on
a pond to quench its thirst.

Forest Management & Bats |
9
eastern forests, even temporary
water-holding features such as road
ruts are often used by bats. Troughs,
tanks and other livest
ock-watering
facilities are critical watering sites for
bats in some western forests and may
be an overlooked resource for eastern
forest bats.
Fo rest-management practices that
eliminate or limit access to water or
degrade water quality through silta-
tion can negatively affect bats. Fo re s t
buffers and adherence to state fore s t ry
B e s t M a n a g e m e n t
Practices (e.g.,
c a reful
placement
of skid roads) are
ve ry effective at
p rotecting water
quality at fore s t
ponds, seasonal
pools, wet mead-
ows and bogs. Note, however,
that
Best Management Practices are
designed for water-quality protection,
not for creating wildlife habitat per
se, so forest landowners may want
wider buffers than recommended if
the goal is to
provide more wildlife
habitat and mimic mature forest con-
ditions. Landowners can get copies of
s t a t e B e s t M a n a g e m e n t P r a c t i c e s
through their state forestry offices,
county cooperative extension offices and other landown-
er assistance programs.
Small woodland ponds can often be created using
earthen catchments in locations that capture natural sur-
face runoff or by piping water from natural springs. This
type of pond can pr
ovide high-quality foraging and
drinking habitat for bats and many other wildlife species
when located in a small, natural or created forest open-
ing. An excellent resource for creating small ponds is list-
ed in the Sources of Assistance section, as is information
on obtaining copies of Best Management Practices.
Large streams provide foraging and drinking habitat for bats. I-beam style concrete
bridges and bridges with vertical crevices (expansion joints) can provide ideal roost-
ing sites when they span such streams.
N a t u r a l a n d c r e a t e d p o n d s p r o v i d e
i m p o r t a n t d r i n k i n g s i t e s f o r b a t s .
Creating and maintaining ponds like this
one in Kentucky are important considera-
tions for managing bats and other
wildlife across forest landscapes.

10
| Forest Management & Bats
Geologic Resourc e s
Se veral species of bats that roost in trees from spring through autumn
spend their winters in caves, mines and other geologic features, such
as cliff-face crevices, rock outcrops, rock shelters and boulder fields.
Some species also occasionally use geologic re s o u rces as day ro o s t s
during summer. These geologic features are often found in the fore s t
matrix. Dense aggregations of bats, sometimes numbering in the
h u n d reds of thousands or even millions, hibernate, rear young or
n i g h t – roost i n t h e s m a l l p e r
centage of caves or abandoned mines that
p rovide s
uitable temperature characteristics. In eastern No rt h
America, few caves, mines and cliff crevices are warm enough or able
to trap enough bat body heat to be used as maternity roosts. T h o s e
that do can be extremely important. Sites used for hibernation must
p rovide cool, stable temperatures while protecting bats from fre ez i n g .
Because these sites are uncommon, bats may travel hundreds of miles
to reach a suitable hibernation site. Sites that don’t meet these criteria
may be used by colonies of bachelors and non-re p ro d u c t i ve females
as breeding sites, night roosts or for stopovers during migration.
Bat roosts in geologic features are easily disturbed or destroyed.
The greatest threats are disturbance from human commercial and
recreational activities. All bats naturally arouse periodically during
hibernation, but forced arousals due to disturbance cause them to
use fat reserves that may be required for survival. Disturbance at
maternity sites can cause females to abandon their young.
Caves, mines, cliff faces, rock shelters and talus slopes often pro-
vide essential roosts that should be identified and protected during
land alterations. Habitat surrounding important caves and mines,
which may include an entire watershed, should be carefully man-
aged to avoid negative impacts. Timber harvests near caves and
mines should be conducted carefully to avoid impacting roost envi-
ronments by changing airflow patterns, sun exposure, humidity,
g roundwater flow or by increasing public
access.
With properly designed buffers, fore s t –
management activities can be implemented
while maintaining integrity of geologic
re s o u rces. Fo rest landowners and managers
should consult state agencies responsible for
managing wildlife and cave re s o u rces to deter-
mine appropriate mitigation measures. Public education, interpre t i ve
signs, closing access roads and trails, fencing and gating can help
reduce roost disturbances. Properly constructed, bat-friendly gates
placed across important cave and mine entrances can pre vent human
e n t ry while allowing many bat species to enter and exit.
In a p p ropriate gates, howe ve r, may exclude bats, increase predation or
n e g a t i vely affect airf l ow and
temperature. See the So u rces of
Assistance section for re s o u rces that provide direction for planning,
building and installing bat gates.
Artificial Roosts & Other Human Structures
Human-made structures, such as buildings, bridges, culverts, dams,
abandoned railroad and highway tunnels, abandoned military
bunkers and old cisterns, have become essential roost sites for many
bat species, especially where natural roosts have been eliminated.
Because roost availability is a
major factor influencing
bat survival
and population size, artificial roosts and human structures can be
extremely important conservation tools where natural roosts have
been lost. Although artificial roosts should not be viewed as a sub-
stitute for good habitat management, they can provide crucial alter-
natives during habitat recovery when natural roosts are scarce.
Concrete bridges with vertical crevices (expansion joints) can
provide ideal roosts and sometimes accommodate very large, region-
ally important bat colonies. Concrete bridges in forested environ-
ments are often important sites for social interaction and night
roosting and may attract several species of bats. The best roosts are
in concrete bridges that are 10 feet (3 meters) or more above ground
and heated by the sun. Bridges and culverts can be retrofitted with
simple and inexpensive modifications that
create excellent roosting
habitat for large numbers of bats. These modifications can be incor-
porated during original construction at little or no additional cost.
Buildings have become primary roosts for many bats, with at
least 20 species known to use them. Big brown bats and little brown
myotis have adapted exceptionally well and now appear to rely pri-
marily on human-made structures over wide areas. Older and aban-
doned houses, sheds, barns and other human structures in the for-
est environment often provide habitat for important bat colonies,
including rare and sensitive species. In parts of the southeastern
United States and Pacific Northwest, many of the largest known
maternity colonies of big-eared bats (
Corynorhinus spp.
) have been
found roosting in old buildings in forested environments. Old
buildings that harbor bat colonies can be shored up and stabilized,
and bats have on several occasions moved into replacement struc-
tures built nearby.
At least a dozen bat species have been reported to use bat hous-
es and other artificial roosts. Occupancy rates continue to increase
O
T H E R
R
E S O U R C E
N
E E D S
Hubbards Cave in Tennessee is nestled in mixed forest land and is used
as a critical hibernation site by half a million endangered gray myotis.
An enormous bat-friendly gate now protects the bats from winter distur-
bance by humans.

Forest Management & Bats
|
11
Big brown bat
Eptesicus fuscus
The big brown bat is No rt h
America’s largest
tree-cavity-roost-
ing bat. It is copper to chocolate-
b rown colored with a bro a d ,
sparsely furred
nose. Its for
earm
length is 1.7 to 2 inches (42 to 52
millimeters) and its
wingspan is 13 to 16
inches (330 to 406 mil-
limeters). Found in
e ve r y U . S . s t a t e a n d
most Canadian pro-
vinces, it is one of our
most commonly encountered bats.
While still found roosting in tree hollows during the summer, many sum-
mer roosts are now in attics, barns and other human-made structures, includ-
ing bat houses. Big brown bats hibernate in caves, mines, deep rock crevices,
tree snags and buildings. They can survive subfreezing body temperatures,
enabling them to occupy a wide variety of winter roosts.
Big brown bats roost and forage in a variety of habitats, but are most abun-
dant in deciduous forests, often in areas of mixed agriculture. They usually pre y
on small beetles but also consume stinkbugs, moths, froghoppers, flying ants,
caddisflies, crickets and katydids. They are an important consumer of agricultur-
al and forest pests. Individuals have been re c o rded living up to 20 ye a r s .
L i t t l e b r o w n m y o t i s
Myotis lucifugus
Little b rown m
yotis va ry fro m
pale to chocolate brown and have
f o rearms of 1.3 to 1.6 inches (34 to
41 millimeters). Their wingspans
a re 8.7 to 10.6 inches (222 to 269
m i l l i m e t e r s ) .
They are often the
most abundant species
in forested areas, espe-
cially near water. Su m-
mer colonies form in
t ree cavities, buildings
and bat houses. T h e y
hibernate in caves and old mines, sometimes migrating hundreds of miles to
reach a suitable site. Hibernating populations of 300,000 to 500,000 individu-
als have been documented. Some abandoned mines may hold a million or more .
Mothers give birth to one young each summer. Pups are capable of adult-
like flight 20 to 27 days after birth. Although most nursery colonies feed over
water, non-reproductive little brown myotis hunt in a wide variety of habitats,
including stream and forest borders, trails, cliff faces, meadows, farmland and
in nearly every kind of forest. Favored prey include many aquatic insects, such
as midges, mayflies, mosquitoes and caddisflies. One little brown myotis can
capture more than 1,000 mosquito-sized insects in a single hour. Life spans of
more then 34 years have been reported in the wild.
AS
A M P L I N G
O F
F
O R E S T
B
AT S
as designs are tested and impr
oved. The best-occupied bat
houses are multichambered units at least 24 inches (61 cen-
timeters) tall and with crevices
3
4
to 1 inch (19 to 25 millime-
ters) wide with roughened landing and roosting surfaces. They
are painted black in the coolest climates and lighter colors in
the warmest to facilitate appropriate solar heating. They should
be mounted at least 12 feet (3.6 meters) off the ground on the
sides of wood or concrete buildings or on poles (not on trees)
in small openings or edge habitats near streams, rivers or lakes.
In the southeastern U.S., cinder-block artificial roosts that
are 12 feet (3.6 meters) high and 4 feet (1.2 meters) across with
openings in the sides and at the base have been built in forest-
ed environments to mimic the trunks of the large, hollow gum
trees once common in bottomland hardwood forests.
These
roosts are being colonized by both Rafinesque’s big-eared bats
and southeastern myotis, two species of concern in south-
eastern forests.
In Arizona, long-lasting and realistic-looking polyresin “bat
bark” has
been successfully tested as a substitute for natural,
peeling tree bark. Three bat species were reported using more
than 80 percent of the artificial bark roosts installed. Detailed
information on construction and placement of all of these arti-
ficial roosts is available on BCI’s website at
www.batcon.org
.
“Concrete trees”
like this one in Texas were designed by Bat
Conservation International to simulate the large tree hollows that
some forest bats require for roosts. This one was occupied within
months by Rafinesque’s big-eared bats.
Endangered
gray myotis (Myotis grisescens), like many other bat
species, hibernate on the ceilings and walls of appropriate caves
during the winter.
PHOTOS © MARK & SELENA KISER, BCI / 0010961 PHOTOS © MARK & SELENA KISER, BCI / 0010965

12
|
Forest Management & Bats
N o r t h e r n m y o t i s
Myotis septentrionalis
About the same size as the little
b rown myotis, the nort h e r n
m yotis bat can be distinguished
by its long, narrow ears, which
m e a s u re0.5 to 0.7 inches (14 to
19 millimeters).
In the fall, the
n o rther n
myotis is
commonly found at
cave and mine en-
trances, where some
hibernate. However,
large numbers have
been reported enter-
ing caves in March, leading to the suspicion that they hibernate outside,
perhaps in cliff-face crevices. In summer, females congregate in groups of 3
to 60 individuals at maternity roosts in snags. Small nursery colonies also
have been found in attics, behind wooden window shutters, beneath wood-
en shingles and in bat houses.
Northern myotis are relatively slow flyers that are adapted to hunting in
cluttered
environments, where they often pick insects directly off foliage.
These bats seem to prefer feeding beneath the canopy level, often 3 to 10
feet (1 to 3 meters) above ground along forested hillsides and ridges. They
mostly eat moths, but also beetles, flies, midges, mosquitoes, caddisflies and
leafhoppers.
Evening bat
Nycticeius humeralis
Slightly smaller than the little
brown myotis, the evening bat
is dark brown with black wings
and ears. It resembles a smaller
version of the big brown bat.
Evening bats are found from
the East Coast to
e a s t e r n Ne b r a s k a
and south through
eastern Texas to
n o r th er n Me x i c o.
Evening bats in the
n o r t h e r n p a r t o f
their range are believed to migrate southward
in the fall
and appar
ently
hibernate beneath leaf litter on the forest floor.
Females give birth to two or sometimes three pups, which are capable
of flight within 20 days of birth. In addition to roosts in tree crevices and
behind loose bark, evening bats are known to roost in cavities created where
the tops of live pine trees fork, as well as in buildings and bat houses. A
maternity colony of over 400 individuals was recorded under the bark of
one dead pine tree.
Evening bats prefer to forage along edges of mature forests, in clearings
and over waterways. A colony of 300 evening bats consumes an estimated
6.3 million insects per summer, typically feeding heavily on spotted cucum-
ber beetles, a costly crop pest to vine plants and corn crops. The evening bat
appears to have a relatively short life span, perhaps only a few years.
L o n g – l e g g e d m y o t i s
M y o t i s v o l a n s
The long-legged myotis, typi-
cally dark brown, is identified
by its relatively short ears and
long, dense fur extending along
the underside of the wing mem-
brane from the body to a line
joining the elbow
and the knees. It is
similar in size to the
little brown my
otis.
I t s r a n g e s t re t c h e s
across western North
America from south-
eastern Alaska, British Columbia and Alberta in Canada to Baja California
and central Mexico and eastward through the Great Plains and Texas. It lives
primarily in coniferous forests, but also occurs seasonally in riparian and
desert habitats.
The long-legged myotis primarily roosts under exfoliating tree bark and
in tree hollows but has also been found in abandoned buildings, cracks in the
g round and cliff crevices. It will sometimes hibernate in caves and old mines.
It is a rapid, direct flyer and often travels considerable distances while forag-
ing. It feeds in and around the forest canopy, primarily on moths and other
soft-bodied insects. Life spans of more than 21 years have been re p o rt e d .
S i l v e r – h a i r e d b a t
L a s i o n y c t e r i s n o c t i v a g a n s
The silve r – h a i red bat has black or
d a rk brown fur with silver tips.
Unlike the red or hoary bat, it
has no contrasting markings on
the wrists and shoulders. Si l ve r –
h a i red bats are among the most
abundant bats in for-
ested areas of nort h-
ern No rth America.
Most of these
bats ove rwinter in the
southern third of the
continent and re t u r n
n o rth in the spring. In
areas of re l a t i v
ely mild coastal climate, such as coastal

British Columbia, Alaska and New Yo rk, howe ve r,
they may remain ye a r –
round. Hibernation sites include small tree hollows, loose tree bark, wood-
piles, cliff-face crevices, cave entrances and,
rare l y, bui
ldings.
Silver-haired
bats are slow, highly maneuverable flyers that typically
feed in areas sheltered by vegetation, over streams or ponds, along roadsides
and in or near coniferous or mixed coniferous and deciduous forests. They
feed on flies, midges, leafhoppers, moths, mosquitoes, beetles, true bugs and
flying ants. Silver-haired bats can live to at least 12 years.
E a s t e r n r e d b a t
L a s i u r u s b o r e a l i s
A medium-sized bat with a re d-
dish-orange coat, the eastern
red bat may have white-tipped
hairs that give it a frosty appear-
ance and always has white
patches of fur on the shoulders
and wrists. It is one
of the most abun-
dant bats in many
p a rts of its range,
but appears to be in
d e c l i n e .
Red bats ro o s t
in the foliage of a variety of deciduous trees and conifers. Hanging by one
foot, wrapped in their furred tail membranes, they are well concealed and
resemble dead leaves. They roost alone or in family groups consisting of a
mother and her young, although they form groups for migrating to milder
regions where they hibernate. Males and females are thought to migrate in
separate groups and may travel with other bat species.
The average litter size is three pups, but a female may have as many as
f i ve offspring. In the southeastern and south-central United States, red bats
a re known to hibernate in grass clumps and leaf litter on the forest floor. T h e y
forage in a variety of habitats, mostly along the edges of pastures, cro p l a n d s
or other openings dotted with large deciduous trees. Red bats eat mostly
moths, but also feed on beetles, planthoppers, leafhoppers and spittlebugs.
H o a r y b a t
L a s i u r u s c i n e r e u s
Hoary bats are larger than big brown bats and have mahogany-colored fur
tipped with white, which gives the
m a hoary
(frosted) appearance.
They
have a distinctive, yellowish-brown collar under the chin and yellowish ears
edged in black. They occupy the widest range and variety of habitats of any
North American bat, living from Argentina and Chile northward through
Canada. Hoary bats roost in foliage in pine-hardwood forests of the eastern
United States and in deserts and ponderosa pine forests of the Southwest,
but they are most abundant in mixed deciduous forests and croplands of the
Plains States and in coniferous forests of the Pacific Northwest.
The hoary bat usually roosts alone or in family groups of a mother and
her young, except during
migration. These bats are sel-
dom seen. In winter, a few
h a ve been found in Sp a n i s h
moss, squirrel nests, wood-
pecker holes and on
the trunks of tre e s .
During sum-
m e r, they pre f e r
t ree roosts in edge
habitats close to
f o r a g i n g a r e a s .
Ho a ry bats hunt
re l a t i vely large insects, mostly moths, in open areas in meadows, over stre a m s
and rivers or above stands of trees at canopy level. They are highly territori-
al, returning to feeding sites night after night. From August thro u g h
Oc t o b e r, hundreds of hoary bats may migrate together. In the U.S., most
h o a ry bats apparently ove rwinter in coastal areas. These bats are believed to
l i ve 6 t o 7 ye a r s .
R a f i n e s q u e ’s b i g – e a r e d b a t
C o r y n o r h i n u s r a f i n e s q u i i
Rafinesque’s
big-eared bats are
grayish-brown
with very long
ears (1 to 1
1
2
inches [25 to 38
millimeters]) and large facial
glands on each side of their
snout.
They are non-
migratory and tradi-
tionally roost in
large hollow trees in
mature Southeastern
l owland pine and
h a r d w o o d f o r e s t s ,
especially in cypress-gum stands near permanent water or in upland oak-
hickory for
ests on the Cumberland Plateau. As this habitat has gradually
disappeared, many colonies now roost under concrete bridges or in aban-
doned buildings that are prone to human disturbance and structural col-
lapse. Artificial roosts may be required to provide alternatives in areas where
traditional roosts have been lost.
Maternity colonies include up to 200 females and young, often ro o s t i n g
in dimly lit areas. In northern regions, some may hibernate in caves, aban-
doned mines, wells and old cisterns, either singly or in clusters. In southern
a reas, most
appear to remain active ye a r – round, except during the coldest and
most inclement we a t h e r. They
are ve ry agile
flyers, capable of picking insects
off foliage. They often forage within three feet (1 meter) of the gro u n d .
Moths are their most common pre y, but other insects, including horseflies,
a re also taken. Bi g – e a red bats may live up to 10 years in the wild.
Forest Management & Bats
|
13

S
OURCES OF
A
SSISTANCE
A variety of f
ederal, state, private and
nonprofit organizations can provide landowners with financial and technical assistance t
o improve
fish and wildlife habitats
in forests.
The following is a partial list of agencies or organizations with programs specifically tailored to
forestry and wildlife conservation.
Federal, State and County
Natural Resources Conservation Serv i c e :
Since 1935, the Natural Re s o u rces Conservation Se rvice (originally called the Soil Conserva t i o n
Se rvice) has provided leadership in a partnership effort to help America’s private-land owners and managers conserve their soil, water and
other natural re s o u rces. NRCS employees provide technical assistance based on sound science and suited to each landow n e r’s specific needs.
N RCS provides financial assistance for many conservation activities. Pa rticipation is vo l u n t a ry.
w w w. n rc s . u s d a . g ov
U. S . D e p a rtment of A g r i c u l t u re Fo rest Serv i c e :
The Fo rest Se rvice was established in 1905 to sustain the health, diversity and pro d u c t i v i t y
of the nation’s forests and grasslands for present and future generations. The mission of the Fo rest Se rvice is to achieve quality land man-
agement under the sustainable, multiple-use management concept to meet the diverse needs of people. This includes providing technical
and financial assistance to state and private forest agencies and landowners, encouraging them to practice good stew a rdship and quality
land management in meeting their specific objectives.
w w w. f s . f e d . u s
C o o p e r a t i v e S t a t e R e s e a r c h , E d u c a t i o n , a n d E x t e n s i o n S e r v i c e ( C S R E E S ) :
An agency within the U.S. De p a rtment of Agriculture, CSREES is
the federal partner in a network of thousands of scientists, educators and extension staff and volunteers who carry out its programs thro
u g h-
out the United States, its territories and beyond. Most of these partners work at or through land-grant universities, with one or more such
institutions in each U.S. state and territory and in the District of Columbia.
w w w. c s r e e s . u s d a . g o v
/ q l i n k s / p a rt n e r s / s t a t e _ p a rt n e r s . h t m l
DecAID: The Decayed Wood Advisor:
DecAID is a tool to help you manage snags, down wood and partially dead trees for biodiversity.
The online advisor can help you to determine how much and what size of decayed wood to leave, what matches general “unharvested”
conditions, and what insects and pathogens create dead wood. It also provides a synthesis of literature and statistics on wildlife use and
an inventory of snags and down wood. Information:
www.treesearch.fs.fed.us/pubs/6233
A Guide to Creating Vernal Ponds:
Biebighauser, Thomas R.
2003. USDA Forest Service, 33 pages. Information for building and main-
taining an ephemeral wetland.
www.ducks.org/CMS/states/Files/Kentucky/vernal.pdf
Non-Government Organizations
The American Tree Farm System (ATFS):
The ATFS certifies owners of tree farms and NIPF lands in the United States that maintain strict
sustainable forestry-management practices. Certification requires that landowners pass an inspection every five years. In addition t
opro-
ducing timber, landowners must protect watershed quality, wildlife habitat and soil and provide recreational opportunities. For
informa-
tion, contact the American Forest Foundation’s website at www.affoundation.org or call
1-888-889-4466.
Longleaf Alliance:
Established in 1995 to coordinate a partnership between private-land owners, forest industries, state and federal agencies,
conservation groups, researchers and others interested in managing and restoring longleaf pine forests for their ecological and economic
benefits. The Alliance provides information on restoring and managing longleaf pine forests for timber and wildlife in the southeastern
U.S.
www.longleafalliance.org
Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI):
A comprehensive system of principles, objectives and performance measures developed by profession-
al foresters, conservationists and scientists that combines perpetual growing and harvesting of trees with the long-term protection of
wildlife, plants, soil and water quality. The SFI Program is overseen by the Sustainable Forestry Board (SFB), an independent 501(c)3
organization, which is responsible for maintaining and enhancing the SFI Standard and verification procedures.
www.aboutsfi.org
Forest Stewardship Council:
The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is an international network that promotes responsible management of
the world’s forests. FSC brings people together to find solutions to problems created by poor forestry practices and to reward good for-
est management. Landowners and companies that sell timber or forest products seek certification as a way to verify to consumers that
they have practiced forestry consistent with FSC standards. Independent certification organizations are accredited by FSC to carry out
assessments of forest management to determine if standards have been met.
www.fsc.org
For detailed information about bat species, bats’ habitat and conservation needs, forest management, upcoming conferences,
workshop opportunities, recent research and much more, visit Bat Conservation International online at:
w w w. b a t c o n . o r g


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