Upper-Midwest legislators urge keeping bat off endangered species list

Rep. Sean Duffy (R-Wisc.) is among a group of legislators who are urging the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) to keep the northern long-eared bat off the endangered species list, claiming it will negatively impact the economy.

Duffy recently joined Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wisc.), and Reps. Dan Benishek (R-Mich.), Bill Huizenga (R-Mich.), Tim Wahlberg (R-Mich.), Reid Ribble (R-Wisc.), Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wisc.), Collin Peterson (D-Minn.) and Rick Nolan (D-Minn.) in sending a letter to FWS Director Sally Jewell, saying the protection would also do little to address the cause of the bats’ population decline.

FWS says a fungal disease known as white-nose syndrome, first discovered in 2006, has wiped out bat populations in the northeastern part of the country and the syndrome has been confirmed in parts of Wisconsin and Michigan’s upper peninsula.

“While we support efforts to address the spread of white-nose syndrome [WNS], we believe that an endangered species listing based on incomplete science will not only fail to address the root issues affecting northern long-eared bat populations, but will significantly burden upper-Midwest businesses in the process,” the letter states.  

The letter notes that the disease was not caused by human activity or land management, but placing it on the list would significantly curtail logging efforts – and other industries – in the areas where the bats create habitat.

For example, Share Brandt of the Wisconsin Electric Cooperative Association said listing the northern long-eared bat on the endangered species list “would thwart our power line maintenance efforts to ensure reliability.”