Endangered Species Status for the Florida Bonneted Bat; Final Rule
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Vol. 78 Wednesday, No. 191 October 2, 2013 Part II Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service 50 CFR Part 17 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Endangered Species Status for the Florida Bonneted Bat; Final Rule VerDate Mar<15>2010 18:45 Oct 01, 2013 Jkt 232001 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4717 Sfmt 4717 E:\FR\FM\02OCR2.SGM 02OCR2 mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with RULES2 61004 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 191 / Wednesday, October 2, 2013 / Rules and Regulations DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Listing a species as endangered or Previous Federal Actions threatened can only be completed by The Florida bonneted bat (Eumops Fish and Wildlife Service issuing a rule. On October 4, 2012, we floridanus) was previously known as the published a proposed rule to list the Florida mastiff bat (Eumops glaucinus 50 CFR Part 17 Florida bonneted bat as an endangered floridanus). [Docket No. FWS–R4–ES–2012–0078; species (77 FR 60750). After careful Federal actions for the Florida 4500030113] consideration of all public and peer bonneted bat prior to October 4, 2012, reviewer comments we received, we are are outlined in our proposed rule (77 FR RIN 1018–AY15 publishing this final rule to list the 60750), which was published on that Endangered and Threatened Wildlife Florida bonneted bat as an endangered date. Publication of the proposed rule and Plants; Endangered Species species. (77 FR 60750) opened a 60-day comment period, which closed on Status for the Florida Bonneted Bat The basis for our action. Under the December 3, 2012. AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Act, a species may be determined to be Our proposed rule also included a Interior. an endangered or threatened species finding that designation of critical based on any of five factors: (A) The ACTION: Final rule. habitat was prudent, but that critical present or threatened destruction, habitat was not determinable. Under the SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and modification, or curtailment of its Act, the Service has 2 years from the Wildlife Service, determine endangered habitat or range; (B) overutilization for date of the proposed listing to designate species status under the Endangered commercial, recreational, scientific, or critical habitat. Accordingly, we intend Species Act of 1973, as amended, for the educational purposes; (C) disease or to publish a separate rule proposing Florida bonneted bat (Eumops predation; (D) the inadequacy of designation of critical habitat for the floridanus), a bat species from south existing regulatory mechanisms; or (E) Florida bonneted bat in the near future. Florida. This final rule adds this species other natural or manmade factors Background to the List of Endangered and affecting its continued existence. We Threatened Wildlife and implements have determined that the Florida The Florida bonneted bat is a member the Federal protections provided by the bonneted bat is an endangered species of the Molossidae (free-tailed bats) Act for this species. based on three of these five factors family within the order Chiroptera. The DATES: This rule is effective November (Factors A, D, and E). Specifically, species is the largest bat in Florida 1, 2013. habitat loss, degradation, and (Owre 1978, p. 43; Belwood 1992, p. 216; Florida Bat Conservancy [FBC] ADDRESSES: This final rule is available modification from human population 2005, p. 1). Males and females are not on the internet at http:// growth and associated development and significantly different in size, and there www.regulations.gov and at the South agriculture have impacted the Florida Florida Ecological Services Field Office. is no pattern of size-related geographic bonneted bat and are expected to further variation in this species (Timm and Comments and materials we received, as curtail its limited range (Factor A). The well as supporting documentation we Genoways 2004, p. 857). effects resulting from climate change, Members of the genus Eumops have used in preparing this rule, are available including sea-level rise and coastal large, rounded pinnae (ears), arising for public inspection at http:// squeeze, are expected to become severe from a single point or joined medially www.regulations.gov and by in the future and result in additional on the forehead (Best et al. 1997, p. 1). appointment, during normal business habitat losses, including the loss of roost The common name of ‘‘bonneted bat’’ hours at: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, sites and foraging habitat (Factor A). originates from characteristic large South Florida Ecological Services Field The Florida bonneted bat is also facing broad ears, which project forward over Office, 1339 20th Street, Vero Beach, FL threats from a wide array of natural and the eyes (FBC 2005, p. 1). Ears are 32960–3559; telephone 772–562–3909; manmade factors (Factor E), including joined at the midline of the head. This facsimile 772–562–4288. small population size, restricted range, feature, along with its large size, FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: few colonies, slow reproduction, low distinguishes the Florida bonneted bat Larry Williams, Field Supervisor, U.S. fecundity, and relative isolation. from the smaller Brazilian (=Mexican) Fish and Wildlife Service, South Florida Existing regulatory mechanisms (Factor free-tailed bat (Tadarida brasiliensis). Ecological Services Field Office (see D) are inadequate to reduce these Wings of the members of the genus ADDRESSES section). If you use a threats. Overall, impacts from increasing Eumops are among the narrowest of all telecommunications device for the deaf threats, operating singly or in molossids (Freeman 1981, as cited in (TDD), call the Federal Information combination, place the species at risk of Best et al. 1997, p. 3) and are well- Relay Service (FIRS) at 800–877–8339. extinction. adapted for rapid, prolonged flight SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: (Vaughan 1959 as cited in Best et al. Peer review and public comment. We 1997, p. 3). This wing structure is Executive Summary sought comments from independent conducive to high-speed flight in open This rule lists the Florida bonneted specialists to ensure that our areas (Findley et al. 1972 as cited in bat as an endangered species under the designation is based on scientifically Best et al. 1997, p. 3). Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Act), sound data, assumptions, and analyses. The Florida bonneted bat’s fur is short as amended. We intend to publish a We received responses from six peer and glossy, with hairs sharply bicolored separate rule proposing designation of reviewers. Peer reviewers generally with a white base (Belwood 1992, p. critical habitat for the Florida bonneted concurred with the basis for listing the 216; Timm and Genoways 2004, p. 857). bat in the near future. Florida bonneted bat and provided Like other molossids, color is highly Why we need to publish a rule. Under additional information, clarifications, variable, varying from black to brown to the Act, a species or subspecies may and suggestions to improve this final brownish-gray or cinnamon brown with warrant protection through listing if it is listing determination. We considered all ventral pelage (fur) paler than dorsal endangered or threatened throughout all comments and information we received (Owre 1978, p. 43; Belwood 1992, p. or a significant portion of its range. during the public comment period. 216; Timm and Genoways 2004, p. 857). VerDate Mar<15>2010 18:45 Oct 01, 2013 Jkt 232001 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 E:\FR\FM\02OCR2.SGM 02OCR2 mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with RULES2 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 191 / Wednesday, October 2, 2013 / Rules and Regulations 61005 Additional details about the Florida through September (FBC 2005, p. 1; 2012a, 2013). After prolonged cold bonneted bat can be found in the Marks and Marks 2008a, p. 9). temperatures killed and displaced proposed listing rule (77 FR 60750). Examination of limited data suggests several bats in early 2010, a total of 10 that this species may be polyestrous individuals remained by April 2010, Taxonomy (having more than one period of estrous with seven occupying one house and The Florida bonneted bat (Eumops in a year), with a second birthing season three occupying another (S. Trokey, floridanus) was previously known as possibly in January and February (Timm pers. comm. 2010a, 2010b, 2010c). As of Florida mastiff bat, Wagner’s mastiff bat, and Genoways 2004, p. 859; FBC 2005, March 2013, there are 20 bats using two and mastiff bat (E. glaucinus floridanus) p. 1). houses at this location (S. Trokey, pers. (Owre 1978, p. 43; Belwood 1992, p. Information on reproduction and comm. 2013). Sex ratio is not known. 216; Best et al. 1997, p. 1). While earlier demography is sparse. The Florida Some movement between the houses literature found the Florida bonneted bonneted bat has low fecundity; litter has been observed; the albino individual bat distinct at the subspecies level, the size is one (FBC 2005, p. 1; Timm and has been observed to be in one house most current scientific information Arroyo-Cabrales 2008, p. 1). The colony one day and the other house the next (S. confirms that E. floridanus is a full studied by Belwood (1981, p. 412) Trokey, pers. comm. 2006a). species, and this taxonomic change has consisted of eight adults and included At the Fred C. Babcock/Cecil M. Webb been accepted by the scientific five post-lactating females, one pregnant Wildlife Management Area (Babcock- community (Timm and Genoways 2004, female with a single fetus, and one male Webb WMA), 39 to 43 individuals have pp. 852, 856, 861; McDonough et al. with enlarged testicles; the other female been found to use 3 to 5 separate roosts 2008, pp. 1306–1315; R. Timm, pers. escaped before examination. The (all bat houses) during periodic comm. 2008, 2009; in litt. 2012; Baker pregnant female captured was the first simultaneous counts conducted on 4 et al.