Bats and Right-of-Ways

The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) is evaluating the potential opportunities and barriers for managing bats along Right-of-Ways (ROWs), specifically along transmission, distribution, and pipeline ROWs. Bats are declining for various reasons across North America, but there is growing interest in how bats use ROWs, indicating potential conservation benefits for bats. EPRI is anecdotally aware of actions to support bats along ROWs, and we want to begin documenting and categorizing the types of activities supporting bats on ROWs.

The following is a short survey to document and inventory those actions in North America. The results of this survey will be summarized and shared publicly. No individual responses will be shared. Please take a few minutes to answer the 8 questions below. If you are aware of others involved in ROW planning, management, and bats, we would appreciate you forwarding this survey to them or those groups.

Please contact Christian Newman (EPRI Protected and Endangered Species Program Manager: cnewman@epri.com) if you have any questions or interest in the survey.

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* 1. Have you or your organization been involved in installing artificial bat roosts along Right-of-Ways (ROWs)?

Yes

Maybe

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* 2. Have you or your organization managed vegetation along ROWs to purposefully benefit bats?

Yes

Maybe

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* 3. Have you or your organization surveyed (e.g., acoustics, mist-netting, other) for bats along ROWs?

Yes

Maybe

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* 4. Have you or your organization taken any other purposeful actions related to bats along ROWs? If yes, can you describe it?

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* 5. If you answered Yes or Maybe to the previous questions, what States or Provinces have those actions taken place?

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* 6. Have you or your organization taken the following actions on ROWs that might indirectly benefit bats? Please check all that apply.

Planted pollinator habitat

Implementing IVM that employs targeted herbicide applications

Created wetlands

Girdled trees

Left dead or dying trees that are not hazards to infrastructure

Consistently planting regionally appropriate native seed mixes after construction or maintenance

Other (please specify)

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* 7. What type of organization are you affiliated with?

Electric power utility

Natural Gas pipeline company

Environmental consultant

ROW Vegetation management company

Bat researcher

Forestry/vegetation researcher

Non-profit organization

Federal agency

State agency

Local agency

Other (please specify)

Bats and Right-of-Ways

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* 1. Have you or your organization been involved in installing artificial bat roosts along Right-of-Ways (ROWs)?

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* 2. Have you or your organization managed vegetation along ROWs to purposefully benefit bats?

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* 3. Have you or your organization surveyed (e.g., acoustics, mist-netting, other) for bats along ROWs?

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* 4. Have you or your organization taken any other purposeful actions related to bats along ROWs? If yes, can you describe it?

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* 5. If you answered Yes or Maybe to the previous questions, what States or Provinces have those actions taken place?

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* 6. Have you or your organization taken the following actions on ROWs that might indirectly benefit bats? Please check all that apply.

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* 7. What type of organization are you affiliated with?

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* 8. Would you be willing to speak with EPRI researchers about actions that you or your organization have taken on ROWs related to bats?

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* 9. Name:

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* 10. Name of Organization/Affiliation:

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* 11. Role/Title:

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* 12. Email address:

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* 13. Phone Number: