SPECIES: Scientific [common] Myotis thysanodes [fringed myotis] Forest: Salmon–Challis National Forest Forest Reviewer: Rema Sadak (Regional Wildlife Ecologist) Date of Review: 12/1/2017 Forest concurrence (or Yes recommendation if new) for inclusion of species on list of potential SCC: (Enter Yes or No)

FOREST REVIEW RESULTS:

1. The Forest concurs or recommends the species for inclusion on the list of potential SCC: Yes_X__ No___

2. Rationale for not concurring is based on (check all that apply): Species is not native to the plan area ______Species is not known to occur in the plan area ______Species persistence in the plan area is not of substantial concern ______

FOREST REVIEW INFORMATION:

1. Is the Species Native to the Plan Area? Yes_X_ No___

If no, provide explanation and stop assessment.

2. Is the Species Known to Occur within the Planning Area? Yes_X_ No___

If no, stop assessment. Table 1. All Known Occurrences, Years, and Frequency within the Planning Area Year Number of Location of Observations (USFS Source of Information Observed Individuals District, Town, River, Road Intersection, HUC, etc.) 1997 – 2002 4 North Fork Ranger District Idaho Fish and Wildlife Information System (January 2017); USFS Natural Resources Information System Wildlife (April 2017) 2009 16 Salmon–Cobalt Ranger District Idaho Fish and Wildlife Information System (January 2017)

a. Are all Species Occurrences Only Accidental or Transient?

Yes___ No_X_

If yes, document source for determination and stop assessment. b. For species with known occurrences on the Forest since 1990, based on the number of observations and/or year of last observation, can the species be presumed to be established or becoming established in the plan area?

Yes_X_ No___

If no, provide explanation and stop assessment

c. For species with known occurrences on the Forest predating 1990, does the weight of evidence suggest the species still occurs in the plan area?

Yes___ No___

Provide explanation for determination – NA No observations prior to 1990

If determination is no, stop assessment

d. Map 1, Fringed myotis range in Idaho (IDFG 2017a)

IDFG (Idaho Department of Fish and Game). 2017a. Fringed myotis (Myotis thysanodes). Internet website: https://idfg.idaho.gov/species/taxa/15598. Accessed on September 29, 2017.

e. Map 2, Fringed myotis range in Montana (MNHP and MFWP 2017)

MNHP and MFWP (Montana Natural Heritage Program and Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks). 2017. Montana Field Guides – Fringed Myotis – Myotis thysanodes. Internet website: http://fieldguide.mt.gov/speciesDetail.aspx?elcode=AMACC01090. Accessed on September 29, 2017.

f. Map 3, Fringed myotis occurrences on the Salmon–Challis National Forest [Idaho Fish and Wildlife Information Systems (January 2017); USFS Natural Resources Information System Wildlife (April 2017)].

3. Is There Substantial Concern for the Species’ Capability to persist Over the Long-term in the Plan Area Based on Best Available Scientific Information?

Table 2. Status summary based on existing conservation assessments

Entity Status/Rank (all at species level except NatureServe Global Rank) NatureServe G4— Not rare and apparently secure, but with cause for long-term concern (usually more than 100 occurrences) Global Rank NatureServe S3— Vulnerable in the state of Idaho (Species is at moderate risk of extinction or elimination due to restricted range, few State Rank populations or occurrences, steep declines, severe threats, or other factors) Idaho State IDAPA— Protected nongame List Status SGCN—Not listed

USDA Forest Region 4— Not listed Service Region 1— Sensitive

USDI FWS Not listed Other BLM— Not listed Western Bat Working Group Medium Priority— indicates a level of concern, that should warrant closer evaluation, more research, and conservation actions of both the species and possible threats (Miller et al. 2007). BLM (United States Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management). 2015. Idaho BLM Special Status Species List Update. Instruction Memorandum ID-IM-2015-009. Internet website: https://www.blm.gov/policy/id-im-2015-009. Accessed on October 4, 2017. Miller, K., E.G. Harris, and C.E. Harris. 2007. Idaho Bat Conservation Plan. Version 1.0. Idaho Bat Working Group. Boise, ID. 143pp. Western Bat Working Group. 2017. Idaho Bat Conservation Plan.

Table 3. Status summary based on best available scientific information.

Species (Scientific and Common Name): Myotis thysanodes [fringed myotis]

Criteria Rank Rationale Literature Citations 1 B2 The fringed myotis appears to be minimally distributed on the Forest NatureServe. 2017. NatureServe Distribution on based on occurrence data, though there have been no systematic surveys Explorer: An online encyclopedia of Salmon–Challis for this species within the SCNF. life [web application]. Version 7.1. National Forest Throughout its range, the species is closely associated with oak and NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. pinyon woodlands, which do not occur on the SCNF. It may also occur in Internet website: various other habitats from desert-scrub to fir-pine associations, which http://explorer.natureserve.org. are available, and roost sites include caves, mines, and buildings. Accessed on October 4, 2017. This species is known to have a patchy distribution across its range (NatureServe 2017). Due to the unavailability of oak and pinyon woodlands on the Forest, distribution is likely equally patchy on the Salmon–Challis National Forest (SCNF). On the SCNF, desert-scrub and fir- pine habitats are naturally distributed as a mosaic, with some opportunity for dispersal between suitable habitats. Confidence in Rank: High, Medium, or Low 2 C Fringed myotis populations are generally patchy in distribution among Barbour, R. W., and W. H. Davis. Distribution in core range areas as well as in peripheral populations. Although their 1969. Bats of America. The surrounding range is large, they are rare and patchily distributed within that range University of Kentucky Press, geographic area (Keinath 2004). Global range includes western North America from Lexington, Kentucky. 286 pp. southcentral British Columbia south through the western United States Keinath, D. A. 2004. Fringed myotis to Veracruz and Chiapas in southern Mexico; west to the Pacific coast, (Myotis thysanodes): a technical east to the Black Hills region of Wyoming-South Dakota-Nebraska, and conservation assessment. [Online]. western Texas (O'Farrell and Studier 1980; Nagorsen and Brigham 1993; USDA Forest Service, Rocky Simmons, in Wilson and Reeder 2005). Elevational range extends from Mountain Region. Available: sea level along the Pacific coast to around 9,350 feet in New Mexico http://www.fs.fed.us/r2/projects/s (Barbour and Davis 1969). cp/assessments/fringedmyotis.pdf. Nagorsen, D.W., and R.M. Brigham.

Species (Scientific and Common Name): Myotis thysanodes [fringed myotis]

Criteria Rank Rationale Literature Citations This species has a patchy distribution across Idaho, and is found south of 1993. The bats of British Columbia. Coeur D’Alene Lake, across the Palouse to the northern part of Hells Royal B.C. Mus. Handb. Victoria, Canyon National Recreation Area, in the Boise River Valley and the Snake BC. 164pp. River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area. This species has also been Miller, K.E.G. and C.E. Harris. 2007. captured in the FDR National Parkway, between Yellowstone and Grand Idaho Bat Conservation Plan. Idaho Teton National Parks, just east of the Idaho state border (Miller and Department of Fish and Game Harris 2007). (IDFG) - Idaho Bat Working Group. The species has a wide distribution outside the SCNF, with generally 14p. disjunct populations. Therefore, this criterion is ranked C. O'Farrell, M.J. and E.H. Studier. Confidence in Rank: High, Medium, or Low 1980. Myotis thysanodes. Mammalian Species 137:1-5. Wilson, D. E., and D. M. Reeder (editors). 2005. Mammal species of the world: a taxonomic and geographic reference. Third edition. The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore. Two volumes. 2,142 pp. Internet website: http://vertebrates.si.edu/msw/ms wcfapp/msw/index.cfm. Accessed on Oct 4, 2017 3 B The fringed myotis is apparently migratory in Arizona and New Mexico, Arroyo-Cabrales, J. and P.C. de Dispersal though little is known about migration distances and destinations nor Grammont. 2017. The IUCN Red Capability whether all populations do so (O'Farrell and Studier 1980). It is thought List of Threatened Species: to be a slow flyer (Arroyo-Cabrales and de Grammont 2017). e.T14206A22063246. Very few data are available on home range requirements for http://www.iucnredlist.org insectivorous bats and none for the fringed myotis in particular. Accessed on 12/1/2017.

Species (Scientific and Common Name): Myotis thysanodes [fringed myotis]

Criteria Rank Rationale Literature Citations The nightly activity areas for individual M. evotis (similar in form and Miner, K., P. Brown, B. Berry, C. function to M. thysanodes) were reported as approximately 94 acres Brown-Buescher, A. Kisner, S. (Waldien and Hayes 2001). This appears to be a reasonable estimate of Remington, D. Simons, D. Stokes, J. home range size for the fringed myotis. However, fringed myotis have Stephenson, and L. Underwood. been shown to travel farther from roosts than M. evotis in similar habitat 1996. Habitat use by Myotis evotis (Miner et al. 1996). and M. thysanodes in a southern Thus, being a slow flyer it is likely that migration distances are moderate. California pine-oak woodland. Bat In addition, given the species is a habitat generalist dispersal is likely not Research News 37:141. limited by habitat and we assign a rank of B. Confidence is moderated by O'Farrell, M.J. and E.H. Studier. limited by the paucity of information on the species’ seasonal 1980. Myotis thysanodes. movements. Mammalian Species 137:1-5. Waldien, D.L. and J.P. Hayes. 2001. Activity areas of female long-eared myotis in coniferous forests in Confidence in Rank: High, Medium, or Low western Oregon. Northwest Science 75:307-314. 4 A-B The fringed myotis is uncommon or rare through the bulk of its range Ammerman, L. K., C. L. Hice, and D. Abundance on the (WBWG 1998), but can be locally common (Keinath 2004). It is one of the J. Schmidly. 2012. Bats of Texas. Salmon–Challis most common bats in Trans-Pecos Texas in summer (Ammerman et al. Texas A & M University Press, National Forest 2012). Colonial roosts range from 10 to 2,000 individuals, but large College Station, Texas. xvi + 305 pp. colonies are extremely rare (NatureServe 2017). According to Tuttle and Keinath, D. A. 2004. Fringed myotis Taylor (1994), mine colonies generally include dozens to hundreds of (Myotis thysanodes): a technical individuals. conservation assessment. [Online]. While abundance numbers may be substantial in some areas of its range, USDA Forest Service, Rocky abundance on the SCNF appears low, though there have been no Mountain Region. Available: systematic surveys for the species. Thus, this criterion is ranked as A–B http://www.fs.fed.us/r2/projects/s with a low confidence. cp/assessments/fringedmyotis.pdf.

Species (Scientific and Common Name): Myotis thysanodes [fringed myotis]

Criteria Rank Rationale Literature Citations NatureServe. 2017. NatureServe Explorer: An online encyclopedia of life [web application]. Version 7.1. Confidence in Rank: High, Medium, or Low NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Internet website: http://explorer.natureserve.org. Accessed on October 4, 2017. Tuttle, M. D. and A.A.R. Taylor. 1994. Bats and mines. Bat Conservation International, Inc. No. 3. 41 pp. Western Bat Working Group (WBWG). 1998. Ecology, conservation and management of western bat species, bat species accounts (draft). Unpublished document prepared as preliminary information for a group workshop conducted in February 1998. 5 D Global population trends over the past 10 years are uncertain but Hayes, G., and G. J. Wiles. 2013. Population Trend number of roosts and population size probably have slowly declined Washington bat conservation plan. on the Salmon– (Hayes and Wiles 2013). Washington Department of Fish Challis National Due to the lack of regularly occurring systematic surveys for this species and Wildlife, Olympia, Washington. Forest on the Forest, there is insufficient information to draw inferences on true viii + 138 pp. population trends. Confidence in Rank: High, Medium, or Low

Species (Scientific and Common Name): Myotis thysanodes [fringed myotis]

Criteria Rank Rationale Literature Citations 6 A This species appears to be a habitat generalist. Habitat information Hayes, G. and G.J. Wiles. 2013. Habitat Trend on gathered from range-wide studies has shown that the fringed myotis State of Washington Bat the Salmon–Challis primarily occurs on desert shrublands, sagebrush-grassland, and conservation Plan: June 2013. National Forest woodland habitats; it has also been recorded in spruce-fir, ponderosa Washington Department of Fish pine, and Douglas fir forest (NatureServe 2017). In Idaho, dominant and Wildlife, Wildlife Diversity vegetation at capture sites has included sagebrush, mountain mahogany, Division. Wildlife Program. and ponderosa pine. The species has often been encountered in steep IDFG (Idaho Department of Fish river valleys, large canyons, or other sites having steep and rocky terrain and Game). 2017. Idaho State (IDFG 2005). Wildlife Action Plan, 2015. Boise, This Myotis species roosts in decadent trees and snags, particularly large ID. ones (WBWG 2017), rock crevices, caves, abandoned mines, and IDFG (Idaho Department of Fish abandoned buildings (NatureServe 2017). Tree/snag roosts are likely and Game). 2005. Fringed myotis – selected for their structural characteristics than for species (WBWG Myotis thysanodes. Internet 2017). Maternal roosts are just as varied. In Idaho, this species has been website: encountered most frequently at low- and mid-elevation mines (IDFG https://fishandgame.idaho.gov/ifwi 2005). s/cwcs/pdf/Fringed%20Myotis.pdf. Winter habits are poorly known, though hibernacula include caves, Accessed on October 4, 2017. mines, and abandoned buildings (NatureServe 2017). IFWIS (Idaho Fish and Wildlife Foraging often occurs along riparian areas close to the vegetation Information System). 2017. Idaho canopy. They prey on a wide array of arthropods capturing them in flight Department of Fish and Game, as well as gleaning them off vegetation (Hayes and Wiles 2013). Boise, Idaho. Database download Potential roosting features and hibernacula in abandoned mines have January 2017. likely declined with the recent review and closure of all mine entrances NatureServe. 2017. NatureServe on the Forest deemed a human safety hazard. There are approximately Explorer: An online encyclopedia of 300 abandoned mine features with surface entrances that have not life [web application]. Version 7.1. collapsed naturally. Of these roughly 38% were gated or grated and 62% NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. where backfilled or the entrance was closed with foam. The extent of Internet website: habitat loss due to backfilling/foaming is not known as surveys were not

Species (Scientific and Common Name): Myotis thysanodes [fringed myotis]

Criteria Rank Rationale Literature Citations extensive enough to verify lack of use or seasonal use, but features http://explorer.natureserve.org. closed without a gate or grate likely no longer allow bat passage. In Accessed on October 4, 2017. addition, closures that block entrances may change airflow in the Petterson, J.R. 2013. Bats and remaining features potentially altering their suitability for maternal Mines Surveys Salmon–Challis roosting and as hibernacula (Tuttle and Taylor 1998). National Forest – 2012 – Final Few post closure surveys have been conducted, but undifferentiated Report. Myotis spp., Townsend’s big-eared bats, and big brown bats have been Tuttle, M.D. and D.A.R. Taylor. documented flying through some of the constructed gates/grates 1998. Bats and mines. Resource (Petterson 2013). Publication No. 3. Bat Conservation Few post closure surveys have been conducted, but undifferentiated International, Inc., Austin, TX. Myotis spp., Townsend’s big-eared bats, and big brown bats have been USFS (United States Department of documented flying through some of the constructed gates/grates Agriculture Forest Service). 2017a. (Petterson 2013). Salmon–Challis National Forest There are four known significant caves on the SCNF and three are used Data Assessment, Terrestrial for recreational caving. Use of these caves by M. thysanodes is not Ecosystems Section (Draft). known, but they have been documented using other caves on the Forest USFS (United States Department of (IFWIS 2017). Agriculture, Forest Service). 2017. Many dilapidated building associated with past mining occur across the Salmon Challis National Forest Data Forest and many are considered a human safety hazard. These buildings Assessment, Riparian Ecosystems are demolished periodically and no surveys for bats are conducted. Section (Draftb). Approximately 72% of perennial streams across the Forest have experienced large losses of riparian habitat and large losses along intermittent streams are equally high (83%) (USFS 2017b). However, the majority of land type associations on the Forest have seen past declined in riparian habitat but are now within or trending towards the natural range of variability (NRV). The quality of riparian habitat, as defined by vegetation composition and condition, has also seen past declines, but is largely within or trending towards NRV (USFS 2017b). The exception is

Species (Scientific and Common Name): Myotis thysanodes [fringed myotis]

Criteria Rank Rationale Literature Citations much of the steep Canyonlands LTAs are outside of NRV. Conifer encroachment and upland encroachment is the most frequent contributor to changes in riparian extent, composition, and condition on the Forest. Historic heavy grazing caused a shift in several plant communities (e.g. grassland extent increased) on the SCNF and resulted in shrubland and conifer species expansion into riparian areas (USFS 2017). This has been further exacerbated by fire suppression policies of the 1950s through 1990s. Livestock operations have shifted to more intensively-managed grazing systems to respond to concerns over impacts to riparian ecosystems and distribution of grazing effects across the Forest (USFS 2017b). To a lesser extent, upland encroachment (possibly due to roads, diversions, and increased temperatures and drought) and alien plant species have also caused impacts to riparian habitat (USFS 2017b).

Conifer forests are abundant on the SCNF as are the diverse roosting features this species is known to use. Snags are characteristic of old- growth forest; 7-10% of the forests on the SCNF is estimated to be old- growth (USFS 2017a). Forest Service data indicate that 7%—12 % of the SCNF Douglas fir, 6%—27% of ponderosa pine, and 10-23% of spruce-fir forest is old-growth (USFS 2017a), but confidence is fairly low at 67%. Old-growth habitat has likely declined across the Forest due to several causes. The buildup of fuels has resulted in several severe and large (hundreds of thousands of acres each) fires across the SCNF in the last 10-20 years. Logging has also reduced old-growth forest on the SCNF (USFS 2017a) with roughly 143,000 acres having been commercially harvested over the last 90 years (Bill Baer pers commun. 11/10/2017). Intensive selective cutting of the largest ponderosa pine prior to the 1990s may have degraded M. thysanodes habitat there. Douglas fir is

Species (Scientific and Common Name): Myotis thysanodes [fringed myotis]

Criteria Rank Rationale Literature Citations now the most common species harvested.

Large snags are abundant across the Forest and this is likely due to beetle and/or fire killed stands and fire suppression (USFS 2017a). Whether the fringed myotis will use these sites is not known, but see Criterion 7.

The condition of Lower Montane-Foothill grassland, shrubland, and sagebrush steppe is fair to good on the Forest (IDFG 2017a). However, altered fire regimes have resulted in dry conifer encroachment and dry shrublands outside the range of natural variation. Wyoming and mountain big sagebrush communities are experiencing encroachment by conifer species, such as juniper, lodgepole pine, Douglas-fir and limber pine (IDFG 2017a). At low and mid elevations, this group is highly susceptible to invasive plant establishment in openings in native plant communities or inclusions of desert scrub within sagebrush steppe (USFS 2017). Though, sagebrush steppe is vast and continuous in the SCNF, and since it is under public ownership, it is less vulnerable to habitat degradation (IDFG 2017a).

Thus, foraging habitat has also declined in quantity and quality, but is improving. Roost features for M. thysanodes have likely declined across the SCNF. However, because this species exploits a wide range of summer roosting features and shrubland and conifer forests remain abundant across the SCNF we suspect seasonal roosts remain abundant. Widespread closures of abandoned mine features and recreational use of caves has likely reduced and degraded these features as potential hibernaculum and thus a rank of A is assigned. Confidence is moderated by lack of information on hibernaculum and cave features on the SCNF. Confidence in Rank: High, Medium, or Low

Species (Scientific and Common Name): Myotis thysanodes [fringed myotis]

Criteria Rank Rationale Literature Citations 7 A Given this specie’s flexibility in habitats and summer roosts it is likely Arnett, E. B., and E. F. Baerwald. Vulnerability of most vulnerable to white-nose syndrome (WNS) and loss and 2013. Impacts of wind energy Habitats on the degradation of hibernacula. development on bats: implications Salmon–Challis WNS has devastated cave/mine hibernating bat populations in eastern for conservation. Pages 435-456 in National Forest North America. WNS spread rapidly from New York State to 31 states and R. A. Adams and S. C. Pedersen 5 Canadian provinces by moving from state to adjoining state. In the (editors). Bat evolution, ecology, northeastern United States, WNS has caused 90% to 100% mortality of and conservation. Springer bats at hibernacula. Mortality may differ by site, and by species within a Science+Business Media, New York. site. WNS has killed over 6 million bats since 2007. To date, bats most Behrens, P.N., R.E. Keane, D.L. vulnerable to WNS have been bats that hibernate in large numbers in Peterson, and J.J. Ho. 2018. caves and mines as the fungus that causes WNS thrives in cold and damp Chapter 6: effects of climatic conditions. Myotis sp. have been the worst affected. variability and change on forest There are currently no reports of fringed myotis mortalities as a result of vegetation. In Halofsky, J.E., D.L. WNS. However, WNS only reached western North America in 2016 when Peterson, J.J. Ho, N.L. Little, L.A. it was found in a little brown bat in Washington State. The most recent Joyce, editors. 2018. Climate species to succumb to the disease there is the Yuma bat, although no change vulnerability and large die-offs of either species has occurred in Washington. Modeling adaptation in the Intermountain Region. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR- conducted prior to the arrival of Pd. in Washington State projected arrival of WNS in Idaho within 20 years (Maher et al. 2012). However, xxx. Fort Collins, CO: US how the disease will behave in the west is not known. Bat species there Department of Agriculture, Forest tend to hibernate in small disjunct colonies in the 10s or 100s. This is Service, Rocky Mountain Research opposed to colonies in the east that can be in the 1000s and may Station. Xxx p. congregate in only a few caves. Hibernacula size of the fringed Myotis has not been reported. Still, the IDFG (2017) considers all bat species that Brittain, G. 2017. Renewable and hibernate in the state to be vulnerable to WNS. Nonrenewable Energy and Mineral Resources Report. Salmon–Challis No significant additional loss of roost habitat due to abandon mine National Forest. DRAFT. closures is expected on the Forest, as that program has been completed (Brittain 2017). Although, roosting habitat in mines could be lost in the Cryan, P. M., & Barclay, R. M. 2009. future through re-opening closed mines. The likelihood of this is driven Causes of bat fatalities at wind

Species (Scientific and Common Name): Myotis thysanodes [fringed myotis]

Criteria Rank Rationale Literature Citations by mineral markets. As mineral resources become scarcer world-wide turbines: hypotheses and there is potential for mining of these materials to become more predictions. Journal of economical on the Forest (Brittain 2017). In addition, recreational caving Mammalogy, 90(6), 1330-1340 will continue to impact caves as potential hibernacula habitat on the Cryan, P. 2010. "White-nose Forest (USFS 2017). syndrome threatens the survival of Summer roosts, including maternal roosts, may be impacted by timber hibernating bats in North America" harvest, but current projections for the SCNF timber program are to (On-line). U.S. Geological Survey, harvest roughly an additional 6,000 acres over the next 15 years (USFS Fort Collins Science Center. 2017). This equates to one percent of forest cover on the SCNF. Internet website: Changes in climate may impact the availability of snags for roosting. To http://www.fort.usgs.gov/WNS/. Accessed on October 4, 2017. project the future climate and impacts to resources in the Intermountain Region including the Salmon-Challis, the Intermountain Adaptation Hayes, G. and G.J. Wiles. 2013. State of Washington Bat Partnership (IAP) used Representative Concentration Pathway [RCP] 4.5 conservation Plan: June 2013. and 8.5, which capture a moderate and high future warming, respectively Washington Department of Fish (Halofsky et al. 2018). Although pathways predicting lower warming and Wildlife, Wildlife Diversity exist, the 4.5 and 8.5 pathways were chosen by the IAP because they are, Division. Wildlife Program. in comparison, well studied providing a large set of projections that Halofsky, J.E., D.L. Peterson, J.J. Ho, enhance our understanding of the possible range in future climate. Thus, N.L. Little, L.A. Joyce, editors. 2018. this represents best available science for our Forest with regard to a Climate change vulnerability and warming climate. adaptation in the Intermountain Region. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR- Although uncertainty exists about the magnitude and rate of climate xxx. Fort Collins, CO: US change (for a discussion of this see Behrens et al. 2018), warming Department of Agriculture, Forest temperatures are the most certain consequence of increased CO2 in the Service, Rocky Mountain Research atmosphere. By 2100, median minimum and maximum temperature in Station. Xxx p. the Middle Rockies subregion, which includes the Salmon-Challis, is projected to rise about 5-6˚F under the moderate warming scenario and IAP (Intermountain Adaption about 10˚F under the high warming scenario. Regardless of scenario, the Partnership). 2016. Intermountain

Species (Scientific and Common Name): Myotis thysanodes [fringed myotis]

Criteria Rank Rationale Literature Citations greatest departure from historical seasonal minimum temperatures Adaption Partnership: Climate occurs in the summer. Annual precipitation projections are highly Vulnerability Assessment variable with no discernible trend under moderate warming and a slight Summaries. increasing trend with high warming (Joyce and Talbert 2018). Joyce, L.A. and M. Talbert. 2018. Chapter 3: Historical and projected Increasing temperatures and drought would increase the intensity and climate. In Halofsky, J.E., D.L. frequency of fires, insect outbreaks, and cause diminished growth of Peterson, J.J. Ho, N.L. Little, L.A. Douglas-fir and ponderosa pine (Behrens et al. 2018). While, conifer Joyce, editors. 2018. Climate forests will persist on the landscape and ponderosa pine may become change vulnerability and more prevalent, late seral conditions, including large snags, would be adaptation in the Intermountain diminished. Snags may remain on the landscape in stands killed by Region. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR- insects and fire, but the degree these stands would be used for maternal xxx. Fort Collins, CO: US roosting is in question as they may present too harsh an environment for Department of Agriculture, Forest lactating females (Snider 2009). Still, M. evotis in a Colorado landscape Service, Rocky Mountain Research dominated by fire-killed forests showed apparent flexibility to shift from Station. Xxx p. using snags for maternal roosting to rock crevices in the remaining green stands (Snider et al. 2013). Maher, S.P., A.M. Kramer, J.T. In addition, changes in climate could have significant effects on Pulliam, M.A. Zokan, S.E. Bowden, sagebrush ecosystems (Padgett et al. 2018) and the southern limits of H.D. Barton, K. Magori, and J.M. suitable climate for many sagebrush species may shift to the northern Drake. 2012. Spread of white-nose Great Basin (Neilson 2005), thus the SCNF may fair better. syndrome on a netward regulated Contaminant/pesticide poisoning is a possible to all bat species either by geography and climate. through direct poisoning or by decreasing the prey base (Hayes and Wiles NatureServe. 2017. NatureServe 2013). However, the population impact of these factors is unknown and Explorer: An online encyclopedia of so is the level of exposure on the Forest. life [web application]. Version 7.1. The global decline in insect populations is a threat to all insectivores NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. (Nebel et al. 2010; Dirzo et al. 2014) and climate change may alter insect Internet website: assemblages (Volney and Fleming 2000). http://explorer.natureserve.org.

Species (Scientific and Common Name): Myotis thysanodes [fringed myotis]

Criteria Rank Rationale Literature Citations This species is not known to incur significant mortality from turbines at Accessed on October 4, 2017. wind energy facilities (Arnett and Baerwald 2013) and the potential for Neilson, R.P., J.M. Leniman, D. wind energy on the Forest is low (Brittain 2017). Bachelet, and R.J. Drapek. 2005. Thus, substantial modification of M. thysanodes summer habitat is Climate change implications for expected, but because of flexibility to exploit multiple roosts types the sagebrush ecosystems. Trans. Of N. species may be fairly resilient to these changes. Impacts to hibernacula Amer. Wildl. And Natur. Resour. may already be extensive. The proximity of WNS to Idaho is of significant Conf.: 145-159. concern for all cave hibernating bats there. But this is somewhat Snider, E.A. 2009. Post-fire insect moderated by western bat species habit of hibernating in small numbers. communities and roost selection by Confidence in this conclusion is moderated by lack of information on western long-eared Myotis (Myotis maternal roosts and hibernacula on the Forest and how the species will evotis) in Mesa Verde National respond to Pd. Park. Colorado. M.S. Thesis, Confidence in Rank: High, Medium, or Low Colorado State University, Fort Collins. Snider, E. A., P. M. Cryan, and K. R. Wilson. 2013. Roost selection by western long-eared myotis (Myotis evotis) in burned and unburned piñon–juniper woodlands of southwestern Colorado. Journal of mammalogy, 94(3), 640-649. Volney, W. J. A., & Fleming, R. A. 2000. Climate change and impacts of boreal forest insects. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 82(1), 283-294. USFS (United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service). 2017.

Species (Scientific and Common Name): Myotis thysanodes [fringed myotis]

Criteria Rank Rationale Literature Citations Salmon–Challis National Forest Data Assessment, Terrestrial Ecosystems Section (Draft).

8 B Bats are vulnerable to rapid declines in abundance because of their low Bogan, M. A., Osborne, J. G., & Life History and reproductive rates and specialized behaviors (O’Shea and Bogan 2003 in Clarke, J. A. (1996). Observations Demographics IDFG 2017). They tend to be long lived, slow reproducing animals that on bats at Badlands National Park, maintain relatively stable populations (Findley 1993). South Dakota. The fringed bat may live 11 years or more (Paradiso and Greenhall 1967); IAP (Intermountain Adaption the record is 18.3 years (Verts and Carraway 1998). Information gathered Partnership). 2016. Intermountain from studies in other areas of the species' range indicate little variation in Adaption Partnership: Climate the timing of reproduction throughout the range. In northeastern New Vulnerability Assessment Mexico, mating occurs in fall, ovulation, fertilization, and implantation Summaries. occur from late April to mid-May, gestation lasts 50 to 60 days, and IDFG (Idaho Department of Fish young are born in late June to mid-July. In South Dakota, pregnant and Game). 2017. Idaho State females have been captured in mid-June, lactating females in late July Wildlife Action Plan, 2015. Boise, through August, and flying young-of-the-year as early as late July or early ID. August (O'Farrell and Studier 1980, Bogan et al. 1996). Similar to most North American bats, the litter size is 1. Young can fly at 16 to 17 days. O’Farrell, M. J., & Studier, E. H. Maternal roost number from 10-2,000, although large colonies are rare (1980). Myotis thysanodes. (WBGN 2017). Mammalian species, (137), 1-5. Beetles and moths are thought to be important prey (WBGN 2017). Paradiso, J.L. and A.M. Greenhall. 1967. Longevity records for In summary, the reproductive rate for this species is low and their use of American bats. The American hibernacula that promote the fungus that causes WNS (see Criterion 7) Midland Naturalist 78: 251-252. makes them inherently vulnerable to WNS, but the habit of most western bat species to hibernate in low numbers dispersed across the landscape Verts, B. J., & Carraway, L. N. tempers this. Therefore this criterion is ranked B. Little information on (1998). Land mammals of Oregon. hibernacula lowers confidence in this ranking. University of California Press. Western Bat Working Group

Species (Scientific and Common Name): Myotis thysanodes [fringed myotis]

Criteria Rank Rationale Literature Citations (WBWG). 1998. Ecology, conservation and management of western bat species, bat species Confidence in Rank: High, Medium, or Low accounts (draft). Unpublished document prepared as preliminary information for a group workshop conducted in February 1998. Summary and recommendations: Within the state of Idaho, the fringed myotis is considered at moderate risk of Date: December 1, 2017 extinction. The species appears to be minimally distributed and in low abundance on the Forest. Similarly, the species has a limited distribution outside the SCNF, with widely disjunct populations. Due to lack of surveys, there is insufficient information to draw inferences on true population trends on the Forest. The species exploits a variety of habitats and summer roosts across its range and so neither may be limiting. Hibernation features have likely declined and have been degraded on the Forest with recent abandoned mine closures. In addition, recreation caving may be degrading caves for hibernation. Future increases in fires, demolition of unsafe structure, and disturbance to mines and caves could further reduce maternity roosts and hibernacula, but impacts of timber harvest may be minimal. The species uses mines and caves for hibernation, which puts them at risk to WNS. The confirmation of WNS in Washington State elevates concern for cave dwelling bat populations in Idaho. Given this, the projected spread of the disease to Idaho, the severe WNS impacts to bat populations in eastern North America, apparent loss of hibernacula, and the species low abundance and reproductive rate there is substantial concern for the capability of the fringed myotis to persist over the long-term in the plan area. Therefore, the fringed myotis is recommended as a SCC. Evaluator(s): Rema Sadak and Mary Friberg