December 6, 2022
IDOT Issues New Guidelines to Protect
Endangered Northern Long-Eared Bat
Things are going a little "batty" for the Lake County Division of Transportation and transportation agencies throughout Illinois. And there's a good reason why - to protect the northern long-eared bat.
The northern long-eared bat, which is found in Lake County and across the northern and north central United States and Canada, has been reclassified from 'threatened' to 'endangered' by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under the Endangered Species Act. This change is due to the decimation of their population primarily by white-nose syndrome through habitat loss, wind energy mortality and other contributing factors. They, as well as other bat species, play an important role in pest control and pollination which is critical to U.S. agriculture.
Northern long-eared bat
Photo from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
IDOT, in coordination with state and federal environmental resource agencies, recently issued new guidance to protect northern long-eared bat habitats.
The guidance places restrictions on when trees can be cleared for transportation projects, and a new process to be followed for bridge and culvert work. Specifically:
- Trees three inches or greater at breast height shall not be cleared between April 1 and September 30. If a project is within 2.5 miles of a northern long-eared bat site, the tree-clearing restrictions are lengthened to April 1 - October 30. Note, tree trimming and clearing of hazards can occur at any time.
- A Bridge Bat Assessment must be completed for any culvert or storm sewer work that is 48 inches or taller, and for any work on a bridge that is below the surface of a bridge deck or involves expansion joints.
LCDOT is following this guidance and has adopted procedures that are already in effect. This means you will see LCDOT in more than just snow plows during the winter months. Crews will be actively preparing for projects ahead of what will be another busy spring and summer construction season in 2023. Residents can expect to see necessary tree clearing over the coming months for projects on tap for next year. In the past, this work would take place a bit closer to the project start date at the beginning of the construction season.
The guidance still allows for tree clearing at all times of the year if there are safety concerns. For example, a damaged tree that is hanging over a roadway after a storm, or dying, diseased trees that pose risk to fall on a roadway if not removed in a timely manner.
Learn more about the northern long-eared bat from the US Fish and Wildlife Service. View LCDOT's current and upcoming projects on its website. And learn more about how LCDOT manages roadside vegetation, such as grass, trees, plants and more.
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