Abandoned Mine Posts

by Andy McAllister, Watershed Coordinator

Many different types of wildlife use abandoned mines, either for permanent or temporary habitat. From insects to owls, an abandoned mine opening can be a potential home for a multitude of residents.

One such animal is the much-maligned bat. Contrary to the frightening image of a blood-sucking Nosferatu portrayed in popular culture over the years, bats are vital both ecologically and economically to our nation. While very small (often weighing less than an ounce), bats can consume up to one-quarter of their body weight in insects each night and, depending on the number of individuals, a single colony of bats can consume up to a ton of insects each night.

Over half of the 43 species living in the U.S. are endangered or on the candidate list for endangered species. As their traditional habitats such as caves and tree hollows are being disturbed by human intrusion, bats are becoming more and more dependent on abandoned mine sites for suitable habitat. Many of the 43 species, including endangered species, have been observed using abandoned mines either as permanent roosts or temporary stops during migration. Abandoned mines provide microclimates similar to caves, suitable for rearing young, hibernation, and rest stops during migration in the spring and fall. Closure of mine openings without a biological survey can trap and destroy an entire colony of bats.

The most common bat in Pennsylvania is the Little Brown Bat (Myotis lucifugus). Little Brown Bats have adapted well to man’s activities, roosting in barns and attics. The Indiana Bat (Myotis sodalis) is the only federally endangered bat in Pennsylvania and while only on the fringe of this bat’s range, Pennsylvania is home to several over-wintering sites.

In 1998, the Office of Surface Mining signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Bat Conservation International (BCI), a non-profit organization formed to promote the conservation of bats and their habitat, to address the significance of protecting bat habitat while closing abandoned mines.

For more information on bats, visit the following websites:

Bat Conservation International

http://www.batcon.org/home/default.asp

The Bats of Pennsylvania

http://www.batmanagement.com/Batcentral/batspecs.html

This entry was posted on Wednesday, October 24th, 2007 at 1:24 pm and is filed under General, Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.