Florida Bonneted BatProposed Rule to Designate Critical Habitat

USFWS/ South Florida Ecological Services OfficeJune 17, 2020

Photo: Dustin Smith, NC Zoological Park

Zoo Miami

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Florida Bonneted BatProposed Rule to Designate Critical Habitat

USFWS/ South Florida Ecological Services OfficeJune 17, 2020

Photo: Dustin Smith, NC Zoological Park

Zoo Miami

Florida Bonneted Bat Proposed Critical Habitat - Topics Covered -

• Critical habitat overview• Florida bonneted bat biology• Methods and approach in delineating pCH• Overview of FBB pCH and individual units• Regulatory (Section 7) requirements related to pCH• Timelines for comments and the process to

the final rule

Critical Habitat Overview

What is Critical Habitat:• A tool to guide Federal agencies in fulfilling their

conservation responsibilities.

• Designating areas as critical habitat does not establish a refuge or sanctuary for a species.

• Specific areas that contain the physical or biological features that are essential to the conservation of the species and that may need special management or protection.

• A designation that only affects Federal agency actions or federally funded or permitted activities.

Critical Habitat Overview (continued)

• Exemptions and exclusions can be made based on economic, national security, or if the benefits of excluding it outweigh the benefits of including it.

• After the Service proposes a critical habitat designation, we may modify a proposal as a result of information provided in public comments.

• We base our final designation of critical habitat on the best scientific data available, after taking into consideration the probable economic and other impacts of the designation. https://www.fws.gov/endangered/

esa-library/pdf/critical_habitat.pdf

Florida Bonneted Bat - Biology

The Florida bonneted bat:

• Is a large, tropical bat • Roosts in tree cavities/hollows, snags, foliage;

artificial structures• Travels long distances to forage nightly• Uses a variety of habitats – forests, wetlands, even

natural habitat fragments in heavily urbanized areas• Is active year-round (no hibernation)

Florida Bonneted Bats - Threats

• Loss of roosting and foraging habitat

• Other, direct, impacts of humans (intentional and unintentional)

• Small population size, restricted range, isolated occurrences, low fecundity

• Pesticides, insecticides, herbicides

FWC

Critical Habitat Approach Maintaining Viability of FBB with the 3 R’s

• Roosting habitat• Foraging habitat• Drinking water• Prey • Sufficient populations

• Sufficient population size• Resources to support

populations• Population connectivity

• Genetic diversity• Ecological diversity

Summary of PBFs

1) Representative forest types (all age classes) that support the FBB by providing roosting and foraging habitat within its core areas (i.e., Polk, Charlotte, Lee, Collier, Monroe, and Miami-Dade Counties).

2) Habitat that provides for roosting and rearing of offspring; and cover to reduce predation risks for adults and young.

Summary of PBFs

3) Habitat that provides for foraging, which may vary widely across the FBB’s range. Foraging habitat may be separate and relatively far distances from roosting habitat.

4) A dynamic disturbance regime (natural or artificial) (e.g., fire, hurricanes) that maintains and regenerates forested habitat, which is conducive to promoting a continual supply of roosting sites, prey items, and suitable foraging conditions.

5) Large patches (over 40,470 ha [100,000 ac]) of forest and associated natural or semi-natural habitat types that that represent functional ecosystems with shield the bat from human disturbance, habitat loss and degradation.

Summary of PBFs

6) Corridors, consisting of roosting and foraging habitat, that allow for population maintenance and expansion, dispersal, and connectivity among and between geographic areas for natural and adaptive movements, including those necessitated by climate change.

7) A subtropical climate that provides tolerable conditions for the species, such that normal behavior, successful reproduction, and rearing of offspring are possible.

Zoo Miami

Delineating Proposed Critical Habitat

1) Compiled all available data from confirmed observations

2) Considering home range sizes and flight distances, conducted habitat analyses

3) Evaluated occupied areas for suitability, identified areas containing the PBFs, and circumscribed boundaries of potential proposed units.

Ralph Arwood

Zoo Miami

Florida Bonneted BatProposed Critical Habitat

Exemptions:Areas owned or controlled by the U.S. Department of Defense are exempt from a critical habitat designation if we determine that a signed Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan provides a benefit to the species.

Exempting 108,377 acres – Avon Park AFR

Florida Bonneted BatProposed Critical Habitat

• 1,478,333 acres• 4 units (all occupied)• ~82% conservation lands• Within range of 21 other listed species

& 6 overlapping CH designations• Ownership:

• Federal – 54% (795,972 ac) • State – 26% (379,784 ac)• Private/Other – 16% (236,755 ac)• County/Local – 2% (28,264 ac)• Tribal – 2% (26,817 ac)

Florida Bonneted Bat Range

Florida Bonneted Bat Proposed Critical Habitat

Unit 1: Peace River & Surrounding AreasTotal acreage: 48,310 ac• Private/Other: 34,810 ac• State: 11,212 ac• County: 295 ac• Local: 32 ac

Largest conservation lands:RV Griffin Reserve, Lower Peace River Corridor

*Important corridor for bats travelling between Babcock Webb WMA and APAFR areas, and presumably foraging along the open water and adjacent habitat.

Florida Bonneted Bat Proposed Critical Habitat

Unit 2: Babcock-Webb WMA, Babcock Ranch & Surrounding AreasTotal acreage: 240,941 ac• State: 151,050 ac• Private/Other: 32,001 ac• County: 9,203 ac• Local: 21 ac• Federal: 3 ac

Largest conservation lands:Babcock-Webb WMA, Babcock Ranch Preserve

*Area supports the largest known abundance of FBB, and most known roosts.

Florida Bonneted Bat Proposed Critical Habitat

Unit 3: Big Cypress & Surrounding AreasTotal acreage: 906,462 ac• Federal: 619,573 ac• State: 152,882 ac• Private/Other: 94,460 ac• Tribal: 26, 012 ac• County: 8,362 ac

Largest conservation lands:BCNP, PSSF, FSPSP, ENP, FPNWR

*FBB documented throughout unit; 3 natural roosts discovered.

Florida Bonneted Bat Proposed Critical Habitat

Unit 4: Miami-Dade Natural AreasTotal acreage: 282,620 ac• Federal: 176,395 ac• State: 64,639 ac• Private/Other: 28,408 ac• County: 10,404 ac• Tribal: 805 ac

Largest conservation land:Everglades National Park

*May include the bulk of the remaining predominately natural occupied habitat within the species’ former strongholds on the east coast.

Florida Bonneted BatProposed Critical Habitat

Proposed Rule - Timeline• Proposed rule published in Federal Register on

June 10, 2020o Includes draft economic analysiso 60-day comment period (until August 10, 2020)o Peer review

• Service reviews comments, peer review, and new information

• Final rules usually publish 1 year following the proposed rule if supported by best available science and no extenuating circumstances

Federal Consultation Requirements (Section 7)

Federal agencies are required to:• Confer with the Service on any action that is

likely to jeopardize the continued existence of a listed species or result in destruction or adverse modification of proposed critical habitat.

• Enter into formal consultation with the Service if a Federal action may adversely affect a listed species or its proposed critical habitat.

A Conference Opinion (CO) addresses the effects of a federal action on FBB proposed critical habitat.

Florida Bonneted BatProposed Critical Habitat

TNC

simmimike

Fernandina Observer

Florida Bonneted Bat Proposed Critical Habitat - Summary -

• FBB is a large, tropical bat that roosts in tree cavities and forages long distances.

• Critical habitat is a tool to guide Federal agencies and only affects Federal agency actions or federally funded or permitted activities.

• Confirmed detections, habitat analyses, flight distances, and PBFs were integral to the delineation of pCH.

• Four occupied units are proposed as FBB pCH, approximately 1.5 million acres.

• Avon Park AFR is Exempt and Tribal lands are considered for Exclusion.

• Federal projects within pCH should confer with USFWS.

• Public comments due August 10, 2020.

Public comments due: August 10, 2020http://www.regulations.gov

Docket No. FWS–R4–ES–2019–0106

For more information, including maps and shapefiles:

https://www.fws.gov/verobeach/

Thank you!

Deadline to request a public hearing:July 27, 2020

https://www.fws.gov/verobeach/