On December 20, 2017, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) announced its affirmative 90-Day Finding for the tricolored bat (Perimyotis subflavus), formerly known as the eastern pipistrelle. Upon publication in the Federal Register, the USFWS will begin evaluating whether to propose to list the species or not.
The Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) and Defenders of Wildlife submitted a petition on June 14, 2016, requesting that the tricolored bat be listed as endangered or threatened, and that critical habitat be designated for this species under the Endangered Species Act.
The 90-Day Finding means that USFWS has determined that the CBD and Defenders of Wildlife petition presented substantial information that warranted a review. It does not mean the USFWS will list the species, it means that USFWS will spend time officially evaluating the species for listing as threatened or endangered or not listing the species at all. After completing a 12-month status review, the USFWS will issue a finding on the petition, and, after that, there will be a public comment period.
The tricolored bat has a very broad range covering 38 states; from Alabama to Maine, North Carolina to New Mexico. It is the only member of the genus Perimyotis. White Nose Syndrome, a fungal disease that affects bats during hibernation, has been determined to be responsible for the significant decline of this species.
CEC will continue to track the progress of USFWS in relation to the tricolored bat and the potential listing under the Endangered Species Act. Should you have any questions, please contact Dan Maltese (412-249-3158; dmaltese@cecinc.com) or Ryan Slack (317-655-7777; rslack@cecinc.com). Additional information can be found at https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2017/12/20/2017-27389/endangered-and-threatened-wildlife-and-plants-90-day-findings-for-five-species
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