Post by Sharon Faulkner on Sept 25, 2007 9:13:38 GMT -5
A repost from the Cavediggers list serve:
Support needed for proposed bat rule
Dear bat friends,
We have been working for many years to help protect Florida bats. But still, colonies are being sealed into buildings using improper methods, and pups are being sealed into buildings during the maternity season (April 15-August 15). Exclusions during the maternity season create problems for home and building owners as well, when the young bats die in their ceilings, walls, and other areas. Most colonial bats in Florida form large colonies, rather than small scattered ones. Often all of the bats in one city may be in only a few large colonies. The loss of colonies like these has a great impact on bat populations. For their size, bats are the slowest reproducing of the mammals. This slow reproduction rate makes bat populations vulnerable.
The proposed rule will not be a cure all, but it will be a big step in the right direction. We will still need to educate people working in professions that have an impact bats. It's been a difficult road, with many starts and stops, but finally the FWC has drafted a proposed rule change regarding bats. The proposed changes are intended to:
1. Clarify that bats are among those species not included in general nuisance wildlife rules;
2. Insure that unintentional take of bats, when incidental to approved exclusion practices, does not constitute a violation;
3. And, preclude bat exclusions during the maternity season.
Supporting this new rule is easy! Below I've pasted the proposed regulation and a link to the rule change page on the FWC website. Scroll down and click on proposed rule number 68A-9.010, Taking Nuisance Wildlife. This will take you to a page where you can make a comment, which can be as simple as saying that you support any rules that will help protect bats. Comments must be received by October 1st. I hope you can take a few minutes this week to help the bats. I've also attached a position paper regarding the issue in case you want more information.
Cyndi Marks, Florida Bat Conservancy (727) 710 2287
Link: myfwc.com/commission/RuleChanges/ProposedRules0708.asp
Support needed for proposed bat rule
Dear bat friends,
We have been working for many years to help protect Florida bats. But still, colonies are being sealed into buildings using improper methods, and pups are being sealed into buildings during the maternity season (April 15-August 15). Exclusions during the maternity season create problems for home and building owners as well, when the young bats die in their ceilings, walls, and other areas. Most colonial bats in Florida form large colonies, rather than small scattered ones. Often all of the bats in one city may be in only a few large colonies. The loss of colonies like these has a great impact on bat populations. For their size, bats are the slowest reproducing of the mammals. This slow reproduction rate makes bat populations vulnerable.
The proposed rule will not be a cure all, but it will be a big step in the right direction. We will still need to educate people working in professions that have an impact bats. It's been a difficult road, with many starts and stops, but finally the FWC has drafted a proposed rule change regarding bats. The proposed changes are intended to:
1. Clarify that bats are among those species not included in general nuisance wildlife rules;
2. Insure that unintentional take of bats, when incidental to approved exclusion practices, does not constitute a violation;
3. And, preclude bat exclusions during the maternity season.
Supporting this new rule is easy! Below I've pasted the proposed regulation and a link to the rule change page on the FWC website. Scroll down and click on proposed rule number 68A-9.010, Taking Nuisance Wildlife. This will take you to a page where you can make a comment, which can be as simple as saying that you support any rules that will help protect bats. Comments must be received by October 1st. I hope you can take a few minutes this week to help the bats. I've also attached a position paper regarding the issue in case you want more information.
Cyndi Marks, Florida Bat Conservancy (727) 710 2287
Link: myfwc.com/commission/RuleChanges/ProposedRules0708.asp