July 27, 2020
DEADLINE: MONDAY, AUGUST 10
Help SAVE the Florida Bonneted Bat —
Urge FWS to expand Protected Habitat!
Greetings!

In a recent e-newsletter we were pleased to report that on June 9 the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service finally proposed designation of 1.5 million acres of critical habitat for the Florida bonneted bat, listed as endangered in 2013. The bat, found only in South Florida, has experienced a steep population decline as its forest and wetland habitats were developed or compromised. The proposed critical habitat designation is a step in the right direction, however, more needs to be done before the designation is formalized. Many of the bat’s known foraging and roosting areas in urban and suburban Miami-Dade County were not included in the proposed designation. It is therefore crucial that Fish and Wildlife expand the proposed critical habitat acreage.

Please write to the Service to let them know you care about the Florida bonneted bat and urge them to expand the habitat protections to ensure the bat’s survival and recovery. This lovely little mammal is an integral and historic resident of Miami-Dade County — together, let’s bring it back from the brink of extinction.
 
Please consider using the suggested letter below.
SUGGESTED LETTER:
Please personalize your letter. It will have more impact when you say why this issue matters to you.

Subject: Expand Habitat Protections for the Florida Bonneted Bat and include Open Spaces in urban and suburban Miami-Dade County.

Dear U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

I was very happy to hear that the endangered Florida bonneted bat will be protected with the designation of proposed critical habitat, however, I ask you to do everything you can to help them fully recover.

The proposed designation is a starting point, but the habitat should be expanded in Miami-Dade County to give the bat a fighting chance for its survival and recovery. The bat is under continuous pressure due to urban sprawl and the resulting habitat loss and is also affected by the impacts of climate change.

As the Service is aware, the Florida bonneted bat exhibits high roost-site fidelity and, fortunately, can thrive in urban areas using "artificial" roosts. The Service should safeguard all known natural and artificial roost sites and nearby foraging habitat to ensure the bat’s survival.  

I therefore urge the Service to analyze the inclusion of open spaces and parks in urban and suburban Miami-Dade County, such as the Melreese Golf Course and Coral Gables Golf Courses, both heavily used by the bat for foraging and roosting. Likewise, the Service should assess for designation other urban and suburban areas in Miami-Dade County, including the L-31N canal, certain areas in Homestead, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, Martinez Preserve and Snapper Creek Park.

Finally, it is imperative to include the Richmond Pine Rocklands. This is the largest forested area in suburban Miami-Dade County, and including it is absolutely crucial to the survival of the species.

Thank you for your efforts to save this spectacular bat!


OR Email your letter here: roxanna_hinzman@fws.gov

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is accepting comments on its proposal up until August 10, 2020.