O’SHEA, CRYAN & BOGAN: UNITED STATES BAT SPECIES OF CONCERN 
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Management Practices and Concerns. — Knowledge about the species of concern has 
resulted in a variety of management concerns and recommendations. Conservation education has 
been a universal management recommendation. Most other recommendations generally follow the 
level of study each species has received, and for most species focus mainly on protection of known 
roosts and management of roosting habitat for the future. However, concern for the two species in 
American Samoa and the Caribbean focuses on hunting of Samoan flying foxes for food and on 
effects of cyclones and hurricanes on habitat and population ecology of both species. Effects of the 
recent (2017) hurricanes on the red fruit bat in the Caribbean have not been reported but are like¬ 
ly to be very severe based on past events. General loss of habitat and disturbance due to human 
activities also are issues facing these tropical species. Management and education policies favor¬ 
ing well-enforced elimination or regulation of hunting on American Samoa has been a highlighted 
need, as well as long-term habitat preservation and expansion for both species. Deaths of red fruit 
bats at wind power facilities was recently discovered as a possible management issue. Minor mor¬ 
tality at such facilities also was reported for eastern small-footed myotis, cave myotis, long-legged 
myotis, and big free-tailed bats in the U.S. 
Research findings relevant to management concerns for eastern forest species of concern have 
most intensively concentrated on Rafmesque’s big-eared bats in bottomland hardwood forests, 
where natural roosts are in hollow trees (more frequently in live trees rather than snags). Manage¬ 
ment practices that retain and recruit large trees with large internal cavities in flooded areas are 
thought to be critical for maintaining roosting populations of this species, with more specific rec¬ 
ommendations regarding appropriate tree species made in different regions. In many areas, protec¬ 
tion of roosts and surrounding habitat was recommended for colonies in human-made structures 
such as old buildings, bridges, wells and cisterns. Rafmesque’s big-eared bats can adapt roosting 
habits to use human-made structures (cinder-block towers, culverts) that mimic natural roosts and 
hollow trees with openings created by managers. Southeastern myotis at the southern part of their 
distribution require protection of caves used by maternity colonies, and a growing number of these 
sites are being protected by gates, perimeter fencing, or access restrictions. In states other than 
Florida, the southeastern myotis may rely more heavily on hollow trees in bottomland hardwood 
forests. Conservation of such habitats, including tracts with large hollow trees of species and con¬ 
figurations known to be used as roosts by southeastern myotis, will be of benefit to populations of 
this bat. The recent findings that the eastern small-footed myotis roosts in talus or talus-like areas 
may warrant more attention for future management. The extent to which populations of eastern 
small-footed myotis have suffered from white-nose syndrome is not accurately known, but these 
roosting habits may bear upon their susceptibility to this disease. 
Two of three species of bats in the southwestern arid lowlands have not been intensively stud¬ 
ied with aims toward management. Loss of riparian habitat is thought to be the greatest issue of 
concern for the Mexican long-tongued bat, and maintenance of water sources with adequate sur¬ 
face areas known to be relied on for drinking appears to be critical for Underwood’s bonneted bats. 
California leaf-nosed bats have suffered from loss of roosting and foraging habitat. Bat-compati¬ 
ble closure methods at abandoned mines occupied by this species have been successful at selected 
sites, but careful planning is required because some methods have not been successful in other 
instances. Loss of habitat due to agricultural conversion, encroachment by people, and disturbance 
are issues for conservation of California leaf-nosed bats, with preservation of remaining desert 
washes for foraging a conservation priority. California leaf-nosed bats will respond positively to 
provision of artificial water sources. 
The three species considered to be characteristic of western uplands with cliffs and canyons 
also have been little studied from the standpoint of management for conservation. Spotted bats and 
