On September 14, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) issued a proposal to list the tricolored bat (Perimyotis subflavus) as an endangered species.
The tricolored bat is native to Central America but is now present throughout the Eastern, Central, and Southern United States, including points as far west as Wyoming. In June 2016, the Center for Biological Diversity and Defenders of Wildlife filed a petition with FWS, requesting that the tricolored bat be listed as threatened or endangered and that FWS designates critical habitat for the species. In December 2017, FWS published a finding that the petitioned action may be warranted. FWS’ proposal, which serves as the agency’s 12-month finding on the listing petition, finds that listing the species is warranted based on the best available scientific and commercial information.
However, FWS concluded that because the tricolored bat occupies a wide variety of forested habitat types within a broad geographical range, designating critical habitat is not prudent at this time.
FWS will accept comments on its proposal for 60 days. FWS also plans to hold a public informational meeting and hearing on its proposal on October 12.
