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Home My WebLink About20140957 Ver 2_Tree Cutting and Long Eared Bat Brochure_20180427USDA A a� v�w N RCS United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service Helping People Help the Land An Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer Exempted Activities that Result in No Affect and Do NOT require consultation or filing of Streamlined Consultation 0 Projects > 1/4mile from known hibernacula or > 150 feet from known roost trees ANDI 0 Tree Cutting Practices that take place from November 111 - April 1411 OR, 0 Projects with a tree cutting footprint of less than 1 acre cumulative in non -forested landscapes (clearing fence lines, removing trees around agricultural lands without cracks, crevices, exfoliation bark). OR, 0 Removal of hazard trees Managing young forest (DBH <6") and/or shrubland vegetation where high stocking rates are unattractive to bats and young trees haven't developed suitable roosting features (cracks and exfoliating bark). Voluntary Best Management Practice includes cutting outside of the nesting season after August I" for nesting wildlife. Time of year restrictions New England specific recommended time -of -year restrictions for tree removal in suitable NLEB habitat: June or July -No Tree Cuffing or Girdling will take place. This is because young of year, are unable to fly and most susceptible to impacts from tree felling. April 161 - May 3111 and/or August V - October 31". Tree cutting during these time windows can harm bats and NRCS will need to send projects which involve cutting more than 1 acre of trees to USFWS for review under the Optional Framework to Streamline Section 7 Consultafion for the Northern Lon,- Eared Bat. USDA A v�,. N RCS United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service Helping People Help the Land An Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer Cutting and Northem Long Eared Bat M The Northern Long Eared Bat, is listed as Threatened by the United State Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and is protected under the Endangered Species Act. Document Purpose: Describe the process for streamlined consultation under the final 4d rule with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and/or the addition of conservation measures to avoid harming bats at various life stages for existing funded proiects and new applications (Federal Easement Programs, Federal Cost Share Programs, and Technical Assistance). NE NRCS projects are held to a highe standard than private forest projects without Federal involvement and have increased time of yea restrictions (See Page 2). Projects within 1/4mile of a known hibernacula There are known hibernacula (bat caves), in NH. These locations are not made available to the general public but landowners can find out if there property is near a known hibemacula by requesting information from the NH Natural Heritage Bureau (NHNHB) data check tool. (see table below). All tree cuffing practices funded or approved by NRCS, within 1/4mile of a known hibernacula or that impact known roost trees will be reviewed by the USFWS on a case-by-case basis under section 7 of the Endangered Species Act. 7OWN NAME —.&Ion A Campton Bristol Lyman Gorham -trees 0 WarneF Alexandria Z Groton Woodstock Rye Rye Lyman Lyman ACWO"h Alst"d Above: Left- lift cycle of the NLEB. Graphic Credit Alex Silvis Above: Right- a list of towns in NH with known hibernacula. Note, abutting towns may have areas within the 114mile buffer zone. Contact NH-NHBfor site specific information.