At EnviroScience, we take pride in the expertise and dedication of our team of bat biologists. We’re excited to announce that Luke Fultz, B.S., Ecologist & Bat Project Manager, has earned a Federal Recovery Permit from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) for three federally protected bat species:

• Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis)
• Northern long-eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis)
• Gray bat (Myotis grisescens)

This significant achievement highlights Luke’s expertise in endangered bat conservation and enhances EnviroScience’s ability to deliver industry-leading endangered bat survey services.

Why Federal Recovery Permits Matter

A Federal Recovery Permit is required to handle and survey federally listed bat species. These permits are granted to qualified biologists who have demonstrated proficiency in bat identification, safe handling techniques, and habitat assessments. By obtaining this permit, Luke joins a select group of bat experts authorized to conduct studies that support conservation efforts and regulatory compliance.

About Luke Fultz: A Leader in Bat Conservation

Luke brings extensive experience in Threatened and Endangered (T&E) species surveys, habitat assessments, and environmental permitting. Since joining EnviroScience in 2024, he has played a key role in managing bat-related projects, ensuring regulatory compliance for clients across industries, including transportation, energy, private development, and conservation initiatives.

Luke earned a B.S. in Wildlife Ecology & Conservation from Juniata College, where he specialized in Environmental Science, Ecology, and Wildlife Biology. With years of experience conducting biological monitoring, transportation planning, and natural resource assessments, he has developed a strong foundation in conservation strategies and regulatory compliance.

Passionate about bat conservation, Luke collaborates with EnviroScience’s team of renowned bat biologists to deliver cutting-edge solutions that protect critical habitats while supporting client needs.

EnviroScience’s Endangered Bat Surveys and Services

With Luke’s permit and our team of experienced bat biologists, EnviroScience is equipped to conduct a full suite of bat surveys and consulting services to help clients navigate regulatory requirements and protect critical bat habitats. Our services include:

• Mist-Net and Acoustic Surveys – Identifying bat species presence to ensure compliance with the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and state regulations.
• Habitat Assessments – Evaluating roosting, foraging, and hibernation sites to inform conservation planning and land development.
• Radio Telemetry Tracking – Monitoring bat movements to assess habitat use and migration patterns.
• Hibernacula Surveys – Conducting winter cave and mine assessments to evaluate bat populations and hibernation conditions.
• Bat Exclusion and Mitigation – Implementing solutions that balance environmental conservation with project development.

These services are essential for industries such as transportation, energy, forestry, and development, ensuring compliance with the Endangered Species Act (ESA) while supporting responsible land use.

Partner with EnviroScience for Expert Bat Surveys

As regulations surrounding bat conservation continue to evolve, having an experienced team on your side is crucial. EnviroScience’s bat experts help clients meet environmental compliance requirements while promoting the protection of these vital species.

Learn more about our endangered bat surveys or contact us to discuss how we can assist with your project.

Few environmental firms in the country retain EnviroScience’s degree of scientific know-how, talent, and capability under one roof. The diverse backgrounds of our biologists, environmental engineers, scientists, and divers enable us to provide comprehensive in-house services and an integrated approach to solving environmental challenges—saving clients time, reducing costs, and ensuring high-quality results.

Our client guarantee is to provide “Excellence in Any Environment,” meaning no matter what we do, we will deliver on our Core Values of respect, client advocacy, quality work, accountability, teamwork, and safety. EnviroScience was created with the concept that we could solve complex problems by empowering great people. This concept still holds true today as our scientists explore the latest environmental legislation and regulations and incorporate the most up-to-date technology to gather and report data.

EnviroScience expertise includes but is not limited to aquatic surveys (including macroinvertebrate surveys and biological assessments); ecological restoration; ecological services (including impact assessments, invasive species control, and water quality monitoring); emergency response; engineering and compliance services; endangered mussel surveys; laboratory and analysis; stormwater management; sustainability services; threatened and endangered species; and wetlands and streams (including delineation and mitigation). Further, EnviroScience is one of the few biological firms in the country that is a general member of the Association of Diving Contractors International (ADCI) and offers full-service commercial diving services.

As part of its ongoing commitment to protect endangered species, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) recently introduced updated tools and guidance to aid developers, landowners, and project managers in achieving compliance with the Endangered Species Act (ESA) for the northern long-eared bat (NLEB) and tricolored bat (TCB). For industries managing compliance across construction, wind energy, sustainable forestry, and beyond, understanding ESA compliance for the NLEB and TCB is essential under the recent USFWS updates.

With over 35 years of expertise, EnviroScience offers unparalleled consulting services designed to help clients effectively apply these updates, minimize project delays, and maintain adherence to federal guidelines.

Federally Endangered Northern Long-eared Bat

Understanding the New ESA Compliance Guidelines and Tools

Effective October 23, 2024, the USFWS tools support stakeholders in navigating ESA requirements for the recently reclassified NLEB and the proposed listing of the TCB. These tools streamline consultation and compliance processes, offering a clear path forward for projects that intersect with the habitats of these endangered bats. Notable updates include:

• Range-Wide Determination Key (DKey):
  Integrated within the USFWS IPaC tool, this DKey enables project managers to automate bat impact assessments and secure ESA compliance faster. Its automated process reduces project bottlenecks and facilitates efficient project planning for most sectors.
• Sector-Specific Guidelines:
  The USFWS guidance is tailored to critical industries, with options for voluntary environmental reviews for development projects and distinct compliance solutions for wind facilities and forestry. Each guidance type offers flexibility while emphasizing bat conservation and regulatory predictability.

These updates benefit project stakeholders by clarifying the steps for ESA consultation, reducing regulatory uncertainties, and helping manage project schedules efficiently.

How EnviroScience Helps You Navigate ESA Compliance

As a leader in endangered species consulting, EnviroScience provides comprehensive services to ensure your project aligns with USFWS requirements without compromising timelines. Our team’s knowledge of bat ecology and extensive experience in regulatory compliance allow us to deliver services tailored precisely to industry needs. Whether your project involves wind energy, commercial construction, or sustainable forestry, EnviroScience’s services cover every stage of the ESA compliance process, including:

• Specialized Bat Surveys and Impact Assessments:
  Our team of biologists and ecologists conducts detailed bat surveys that provide critical insights into bat presence, helping to guide compliance strategies effectively.
• Mitigation Strategy Development:
  We craft customized mitigation plans to minimize project impacts on endangered bat habitats, ensuring regulatory adherence while allowing project continuity.
• Ongoing Support for Compliance:
  From initial project planning to mitigation and monitoring, EnviroScience offers clients the guidance needed to implement USFWS’s tools and resources successfully.

Proposed Endangered Tricolored Bat

Why Choose EnviroScience as Your Bat Conservation Partner?

With a proven track record across multiple industries, EnviroScience has built a reputation for excellence in bat conservation and ESA compliance. Our consulting team’s decades of experience working with USFWS and other regulatory bodies make us a preferred partner for complex projects nationwide.

By partnering with EnviroScience, you gain:

• Industry-Specific Expertise:
  We understand the unique regulatory needs of sectors ranging from wind energy to private landowners, enabling us to tailor our services to each client.
• Efficient Compliance Solutions:
  Our expertise ensures that your project can achieve ESA compliance quickly and accurately, helping to keep timelines on track and budgets in check.
• Commitment to Conservation:
  While we support your project’s success, we also work closely with regulatory agencies to ensure that endangered species like the NLEB and TCB are protected for future generations.

Discover How EnviroScience Can Support Your Project

Whether you’re developing land, managing forest resources, or operating a wind facility, EnviroScience’s expert bat consulting services are designed to help you meet regulatory requirements without compromising your operational goals. Visit our Endangered Bat Surveys webpage to learn more about our services.

Few environmental firms in the country retain EnviroScience’s degree of scientific know-how, talent, and capability under one roof. The diverse backgrounds of our biologists, environmental engineers, scientists, and divers enable us to provide comprehensive in-house services and an integrated approach to solving environmental challenges—saving clients time, reducing costs, and ensuring high-quality results.

Our client guarantee is to provide “Excellence in Any Environment,” meaning no matter what we do, we will deliver on our Core Values of respect, client advocacy, quality work, accountability, teamwork, and safety. EnviroScience was created with the concept that we could solve complex problems by empowering great people. This concept still holds true today as our scientists explore the latest environmental legislation and regulations and incorporate the most up-to-date technology to gather and report data.

EnviroScience expertise includes but is not limited to aquatic surveys (including macroinvertebrate surveys and biological assessments); ecological restoration; ecological services (including impact assessments, invasive species control, and water quality monitoring); emergency response; engineering and compliance services; endangered mussel surveys; laboratory and analysis; stormwater management; sustainability services; threatened and endangered species; and wetlands and streams (including delineation and mitigation). Further, EnviroScience is one of the few biological firms in the country that is a general member of the Association of Diving Contractors International (ADCI) and offers full-service commercial diving services.

Northern Long-eared Bat (Myotis septentrionalis)

On November 29, 2022, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) announced a final rule to reclassify the northern long-eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis) as “endangered” under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The rule takes effect on January 30, 2023.

This change in status from “threatened” to “endangered” signifies that this species requires additional conservation efforts to address the impacts of its primary threat of white-nose syndrome (WNS). When final, the prior 4(d) rule will be nullified and replaced with protections under the ESA.

The northern long-eared bat faces extinction due to the devastating impact of WNS, a deadly disease that is decimating cave-dwelling bats and “has spread to approximately 80% of the species’ range and almost all of the U.S. range since it was listed as threatened in 2015…and is expected to affect 100% of the northern long-eared bat’s U.S. range by 2025, spreading more quickly than anticipated across the continent.”

The change in the species’ status comes after an in-depth review found that northern long-eared bat populations continue to decline, and the species now meets the definition of an endangered species under the ESA. Data indicate white-nose syndrome has caused estimated declines of 97 to 100% in affected northern long-eared bat populations. Other factors influencing northern long-eared bat viability—though to a far lesser extent than the influence of WNS—include wind energy mortality, effects of climate change, and habitat loss.  

In many cases, the USFWS will identify “critical habitat” areas considered particularly important for the survival of an endangered species. Officials decided against doing so for the northern long-eared bat because habitat loss isn’t the primary reason for its decline, spokeswoman for the USFWS Georgia Parham said. She added, calling attention to their winter hibernation spots could make things worse.

Found in 37 states in the eastern and north central United States, the northern long-eared bat is one of many bat species that are critical to healthy, functioning natural areas and contribute at least $3 billion annually to the U.S. agriculture economy through pest control and pollination. Northern long-eared bats live in mature interior forests and forage along wooded hillsides and ridgelines. Recovery efforts will focus on wooded areas where these bats roost in the summer, typically solitary or in small groups, beneath bark or within tree cavities and crevices.

EnviroScience Bat Ecologist Mary Gilmore

Transportation projects covered under various programmatic consultations will not be impacted by the reclassification provided they are completed by January 29, 2023. The USFWS is developing tools to assist project proponents with consultations for endangered bat species and updating programmatic consultations with federal agencies.

EnviroScience can help you navigate your project and streamline the ESA Section 7 Consultation process. Our bat biologists routinely conduct both acoustic and mist-net bat surveys, develop conservation and management plans, and work with clients to create conservation and avoidance measures. ES bat experts are qualified to work with the federally endangered Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis) and the northern long-eared bat, as well as the gray bat (Myotis grisescens)—another federally endangered cave-dwelling bat species.

Visit https://www.enviroscienceinc.com/services/threatened-endangered-species/endangered-bats/ for more information, or give us a call at 800.940.4025 to answer any questions or concerns as to what this reclassification may mean for your projects.

The tricolored bat is another cave-dwelling bat species whose population has been decimated by WNS and is currently proposed to be listed as endangered. The comment period for the proposed rule to list the tricolored bat as endangered closed on November 14, 2022. The USFWS is currently evaluating all information received during the comment period and will announce a final decision within 12 months. EnviroScience will continue to post updates on the status of these bats and updates to regulatory guidelines. 

Few environmental firms in the country retain EnviroScience’s degree of scientific know-how, talent, and capability under one roof. The diverse backgrounds of our biologists, environmental engineers, scientists, and divers enable us to provide comprehensive in-house services and an integrated approach to solving environmental challenges—saving clients time, reducing costs, and ensuring high-quality results.

Our client guarantee is to provide “Excellence in Any Environment” meaning no matter what we do, we will deliver on our Core Values of respect, client advocacy, quality work, accountability, teamwork, and safety. EnviroScience was created with the concept that we could solve complex problems by empowering great people. This concept still holds true today, as our scientists explore the latest in environmental legislation and regulations and incorporate the most up-to-date technology to gather and report data.

EnviroScience expertise includes but is not limited to: aquatic survey (including macroinvertebrate surveys and biological assessments); ecological restoration; ecological services (including impact assessments, invasive species control, and water quality monitoring);  emergency response; engineering and compliance services; endangered mussel surveys; laboratory and analysis; stormwater management; threatened and endangered species; and wetlands and streams (including delineation and mitigation). Further, EnviroScience is one of the few biological firms in the country that is a general member of the Association of Diving Contractors International (ADCI) and offers full-service commercial diving services.

Tricolored bat (Perimyotis subflavus)

On September 13, 2022, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced a proposal to list the tricolored bat (Perimyotis subflavus) as endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). As of the time of this proposed listing, guidance and regulations have not yet changed; however, changes may be expected—as is the case for the northern long-eared bat, which will be ruled on in November.

Based on a thorough review of the species’ status, the species was found to have declined so dramatically across its range that it now meets the definition of endangered under the ESA. White-nose syndrome has caused estimated declines of more than 90% in affected tricolored bat colonies and is currently present across 59% of the species’ range. 

In the United States, the tricolored bat’s range includes Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Wyoming, and the District of Columbia.    

During winter, tricolored bats hibernate in caves, abandoned mines, and abandoned tunnels ranging from small to large in size. In the southern U.S., tricolored bats may hibernate in road-associated culverts. During spring, summer, and fall months, they roost primarily among leaf clusters of live or recently dead deciduous hardwood trees. They also roost among Spanish moss in the south and bearded lichen in the north.   

The proposed rule to list the tricolored bat as endangered appears in the September 14, 2022, Federal Register. Public comments on the proposal may be submitted through November 14, 2022. 

Transportation projects covered under various programmatic consultations will not be impacted by the reclassification provided they are completed by the end of the year. Biologists strongly encourage mist-net surveys proposed for the 2022 summer survey season to include radiotelemetry for both species. EnviroScience bat biologists routinely conduct both acoustic and mist-net bat surveys, develop conservation and management plans, and work with clients to create conservation and avoidance measures. Our team is qualified and able to help you navigate your project through the ESA Section 7 Consultation process. We are keeping up with the latest information and are available at 800.940.4025 to answer any questions or concerns as to what this proposed reclassification may mean for your projects.

Few environmental firms in the country retain EnviroScience’s degree of scientific know-how, talent, and capability under one roof. The diverse backgrounds of our biologists, environmental engineers, scientists, and divers enable us to provide comprehensive in-house services and an integrated approach to solving environmental challenges—saving clients time, reducing costs, and ensuring high-quality results. Our client guarantee is to provide “Excellence in Any Environment” meaning no matter what we do, we will deliver on our Core Values of respect, client advocacy, quality work, accountability, teamwork, and safety. EnviroScience was created with the concept that we could solve complex problems by empowering great people. This concept still holds true today, as our scientists explore the latest in environmental legislation and regulations and incorporate the most up-to-date technology to gather and report data.

EnviroScience expertise includes but is not limited to: aquatic survey (including macroinvertebrate surveys and biological assessments); ecological restoration; ecological services (including impact assessments, invasive species control, and water quality monitoring);  emergency response; engineering and compliance services; endangered mussel surveys; laboratory and analysis; stormwater management; threatened and endangered species; and wetlands and streams (including delineation and mitigation). Further, EnviroScience is one of the few biological firms in the country that is a general member of the Association of Diving Contractors International (ADCI) and offers full-service commercial diving services.

On March 22, 2022, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) announced a proposal to reclassify the northern long-eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis; NLEB) from “threatened” to “endangered” under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The change is a direct result of a January 28, 2020 ruling by a federal judge in favor of a lawsuit, Center for Biological Diversity v. Everson, that USFWS’s 2015 threatened listing of the NLEB did not adequately protect the species under the ESA. After a review of the best available scientific and commercial information, USFWS found that the NLEB meets the ESA’s definition of an endangered species and proposed uplisting its status accordingly.

The NLEB faces extinction due to the devastating impact of white-nose syndrome, a deadly disease that is decimating cave-dwelling bats and “has spread to approximately 80% of the species’ range and almost all of the U.S. range since it was listed as threatened in 2015 … and is expected to affect 100% of the northern long-eared bat’s U.S. range by 2025, spreading more quickly than anticipated across the continent.” Other factors influencing NLEB viability—though to a far lesser extent than the influence of WNS—include wind energy mortality, effects of climate change, and habitat loss.  

At the time of its initial proposed listing as threatened in 2014, the Center for Biological Diversity reported “Scientists have estimated that by eating agricultural pests such as corn earworms and coddling moths, bats save U.S. farmers $22.9 billion per year. The timber industry also benefits from the free pest control services of bats that eat spruce budworms, gypsy moths, and other forest pests.”

The proposed rule to uplist the NLEB from threatened to endangered was posted on the Federal Register on March 23, 2022, and public comments may be submitted through May 23, 2022. A final decision is expected in November 2022.

Transportation projects covered under various programmatic consultations will not be impacted by the reclassification provided they are completed by the end of the year. Biologists strongly encourage mist-net surveys proposed for the 2022 summer survey season to include radiotelemetry on NLEB. EnviroScience bat biologists routinely conduct both acoustic and mist-net bat surveys, develop conservation and management plans, and work with clients to create conservation and avoidance measures. Our team is qualified and able to help you navigate your project through the ESA Section 7 Consultation process. We are keeping up with the latest information and are available at 800.940.4025 to answer any questions or concerns as to what this proposed reclassification may mean for your projects.

Few environmental firms in the country retain EnviroScience’s degree of scientific know-how, talent, and capability under one roof. The diverse backgrounds of our biologists, environmental engineers, scientists, and divers enable us to provide comprehensive in-house services and an integrated approach to solving environmental challenges—saving clients time, reducing costs, and ensuring high-quality results. Our client guarantee is to provide “Excellence in Any Environment” meaning no matter what we do, we will deliver on our Core Values of respect, client advocacy, quality work, accountability, teamwork, and safety. EnviroScience was created with the concept that we could solve complex problems by empowering great people. This concept still holds true today, as our scientists explore the latest in environmental legislation and regulations and incorporate the most up-to-date technology to gather and report data.

EnviroScience expertise includes but is not limited to: aquatic survey (including macroinvertebrate surveys and biological assessments); ecological restoration; ecological services (including impact assessments, invasive species control, and water quality monitoring);  emergency response; engineering and compliance services; endangered mussel surveys; laboratory and analysis; stormwater management; threatened and endangered species; and wetlands and streams (including delineation and mitigation). Further, EnviroScience is one of the few biological firms in the country that is a general member of the Association of Diving Contractors International (ADCI) and offers full-service commercial diving services.