· Got a Mine? – Help the Bats!
· Get Applications Ready for 2008 Fishing Tournaments, Special Events
Got a Mine? – Help the Bats!
PIERRE, S.D.—The S.D. Game, Fish and Parks Department is seeking landowners with open underground mine workings on their property as part of a continuing effort to identify important underground roosting habitat for bats and to address public safety hazards associated with open, abandoned mines.
“All of South Dakota’s bats feed exclusively on flying insects, including many agricultural and forestry pests, as well as those posing threats to public health, such as mosquitoes,” according to Joel Tigner of Batworks, a consulting firm contracted by GFP to perform this work. “Loss of roosting habitat is a major contributor to bat population declines throughout the United States. In our part of the country, suitable underground roosts are extremely critical to help bats survive through the winter months.”
At least eight of the 13 bat species that live in South Dakota use underground roosts, including abandoned mines. Roosts are habitat locations that meet specific requirements of bats based on seasonal and environmental conditions. Roosts provide bats safe places to rest, socialize and hibernate.
Sites that provide significant roosting habitat can be protected by installing specially designed, vandal resistant, bat-friendly gates. Bat gates prevent unauthorized human entry but include openings through which bats will fly. The gates are designed to minimize impact to the interior microclimate of the mine, which is important for the bats’ continued use of the site. Gates are custom-fitted to the mine and can protect shafts (vertical entries) and adits (horizontal entries).
Each mine is assessed to determine if and how bats use the site. Not all mines meet the conditions bats need, and if the site does not warrant protection as bat habitat, owners may receive information about suitable closure methods.
“This project is funded partially through an annual appropriation called State Wildlife Grants, a funding source to help state agencies broaden their fish and wildlife work,” said Eileen Dowd Stukel, wildlife diversity coordinator for GFP. “We don’t have any endangered bats in South Dakota, and it’s important to gather sound biological information and complete on-the-ground projects to assure that these sensitive species don’t decline to the point that endangered species listing is needed.”
Abandoned mine bat gate installation is provided to private landowners at no charge. For more information about this project, contact Joel Tigner by phone at (605) 390-2061 or via e-mail at batworks@rushmore.com.
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Get Applications Ready for 2008 Fishing Tournaments, Special Events
PIERRE, S.D.—The S.D. Game, Fish and Parks Department is now accepting applications for 2008 fishing tournaments and special events.
Event organizers are reminded that fishing tournament and special event applications must be submitted no later than 30 days before the scheduled event. “This 30-day time frame allows us to obtain all the required signatures and take care of any special requirements or conditions for the event like proof of insurance or any waivers that may be needed,” said GFP Special Events Permits Coordinator Jeanne Uecker.
The 2008 application includes dates during the year when fishing tournaments aren’t allowed as well as the dates when salmon and walleye catch and release tournaments are restricted.
Special events and fishing tournaments take planning and Uecker advises organizers to turn in their applications sooner rather than later. “The 30-day advance notice helps to make sure that there is not already something planned in the same area at that time,” Uecker said.
Applications may be found on the GFP Web site at http://www.sdgfp.info/Publications/SpecEventFishTournApplForm.pdf or they can be obtained from your local GFP conservation officer.
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