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BIN TITLE: Mine Assessment for Bats in Southwestern Montana
SUBMITTING PARTNER BUREAU: Bureau of Land Management
BIN NUMBER: BLM11CR98
BUREAU CONTACT: David Kampwerth, (406)683-2337
RESULTS OF BRD-INITIATED COMMUNICATION: During FY97, Tom O'Shea developed and submitted a Species-at-Risk UPO proposal for the work, in collaboration with the Montana Natural Heritage Program (MTHP) and the BLM contact. The proposal was successful in competition and nearly fully funded at $54,000. A Cooperative Agreement was developed with MTHP and approved by USGS Contracting in August 1997. MTHP initiated work by assigning staff, obtaining mine location data from several state and federal agencies, and beginning surveys of abandoned mine sites with acoustic sensors, mist nets, and searches of openings for droppings. O'Shea traveled to the Dillon Resource Area September 28-October 2 to join in conducting surveys and to meet with MTHP and BLM contacts to review progress and project organization.
In FY98, O'Shea traveled to Montana twice. Once was in winter to attend and evaluate a certified underground mine safety training program that all key participants completed. At the beginning of the 1998 field season he met with the new MTHP State Director and pertinent staff as well as the BLM contact to ensure that work would progress smoothly (staff changes had occurred), and to assist with kicking off field techniques and identifications. MTHP conducted all subsequent field study, sometimes with the participation of the BLM contact, and all parties remained in communication throughout the work. MTHP submitted a final report with full results on 8 December 1999 (a no-cost extension was granted to MTHP to allow completion of the final report and gathering of winter temperature and hibernacula information).
Investigations were made at 173 abandoned mine workings at 88 mine sites in southwestern Montana. Evidence of bat use was collected at 66 workings at 49 sites. The majority of use was as night roosts, although one working was confirmed as a hibernaculum. Sightings/captures of 64 bats of four species were obtained, 3 of which were former Category 2 Candidates for listing. Echolocation detectors showed bat activity at 50 mine workings. A database on mine locations (GPS-referenced or to 1/4-1/4 section) and characteristics was provided to BLM. Information on relative use of mines by vegetation and elevation zones was also provided. Data on internal thermal characteristics of selected mines were recorded and will be summarized and provided as an addendum to the final report.
U.S. Department of the Interior | U.S. Geological Survey
URL: http://biology.usgs.gov/cro/99BLMBIN.htm
Page Contact Information:
tlwilliams@usgs.gov
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