The northern long-eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis) was originally listed as threatened by the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) under the Endangered Species Act in 2015 due to population losses primarily caused by white-nose syndrome. The northern long-eared bat is a wide-ranging species, found in 37 states. Hibernacula studies have estimated a 97 to 100% decline across its range in recent years due to white-nose syndrome. While measures have been instituted to help the northern long-eared bat, numbers continue to decline. With this, the northern long-eared bat listing was upgraded by USFWS to endangered on November 29, 2022. The new designation will go into effect on January 30, 2023. Any projects within northern long-eared bat range that are not concluded in this timeframe will be subject to revised regulatory guidance. This new guidance will likely be similar to another bat species with similar habitat and range that is currently listed as endangered, the Indiana Bat (Myotis sodalis). Any development projects that require permitting through PA DEP, also require coordination with agencies regarding species of special concern, threatened or endangered status to determine potential presence (or absence) of these species and if development restrictions are needed for the project to proceed to insure protection of the species and its habitat.
