Availability of a Draft Recovery Plan for the Mexican Long-Nosed Bat for Review and Comment

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Availability of a Draft Recovery Plan for the Mexican Long-Nosed

Bat for Review and Comment

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of document availability and public comment period.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announces the

availability for public review of a draft recovery plan for the Mexican

long-nosed bat (Leptonycteris nivalis) which the Service listed as an

endangered species on September 30, 1988 (53 FR 38460). This species is

known to occur in central and northern Mexico, the Big Bend area of

Texas, and Hildago County in southwestern New Mexico. The Service

solicits review and comment from the public on this draft plan.

DATES: Comments on the draft recovery plan must be received on or

before July 5, 1994 to receive consideration by the Service.

ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to review the draft recovery plan may obtain

a copy by contacting the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Ecological

Services Field Office, 611 E. Sixth Street, room 407, Austin, Texas

78701; (512) 482-5436. Written comments and materials regarding the

plan should be addressed to the State Administrator at the above

address. Comments and materials received are available on request for

public inspection, by appointment, during normal business hours at the

above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Ms. Carol J. Beardmore, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Biologist,

telephone (512) 482-5436 or at the above address.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

Restoring an endangered or threatened plant or animal to the point

where it is again a secure, self-sustaining member of its ecosystem is

a primary goal of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's endangered

species program. To help guide the recovery effort, the Service is

working to prepare recovery plans for most of the listed species native

to the United States. Recovery plans describe site specific management

actions considered necessary for conservation and survival of the

species, establish objective, measurable criteria for the recovery

levels for downlisting or delisting species, and estimate time and cost

for implementing the recovery measures needed.

The Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Act), as amended (16 U.S.C.

1531 et seq.) requires the development of recovery plans for listed

species unless such a plan would not promote the conservation of a

particular species. Section 4(f) of the Act, as amended in 1988,

requires that public notice and an opportunity for public review and

comment be provided during recovery plan development. The Service will

consider all information presented during a public comment period prior

to approval of each new or revised recovery plan. The Service and other

Federal agencies will also take these comments into account in the

course of implementing approved recovery plans.

The Mexican long-nosed bat (Leptonycteris nivalis) is known to

occur in central and northern Mexico, the Big Bend area of Texas, and

Hildago County, New Mexico. The species roosts in caves, crevices,

mines, and occasionally man-made structures. The only known Mexican

long-nosed bat roost in the United States is found in the Big Bend

National Park, Texas. This roost is used for a relatively short period

during the summer. The Mexican long-nosed bat feeds primarily on the

nectar produced by night blooming plants (Agave spp.) and is one of

only two bat species found in the United States that is nectarivorous.

These bats appear to follow the seasonal blooming of agave plants.

The Mexican long-nosed bat is threatened by loss and disruption of

roosting and foraging habitat. Preferred (historical) roost sites are a

limiting factor for this and other bat species. When occupying a roost,

this bat appears to be particularly sensitive to human movement and

disruption. Mexican long-nosed bat roosts are threatened by curious

individuals, cave vandals, and citizens attempting to eradicate vampire

bats.The foraging habitat of the Mexican long-nosed bat is threatened

by producers of tequila, mescal, and pulque who harvest heads from

flowering agave stalks before they mature and producers flower. Except

for protection of plants and roost sites in the Big Bend National Park,

food producing plants and roosts are generally unprotected.

The objective of the Draft Recovery Plan for the Mexican long-nosed

bat is downlisting. Downlisting is selected because there is

insufficient information regarding the bat and its habitat to specify

delisting criteria. Downlisting criteria are specified in the plan.

Recovery efforts outlined in the plan focus on roosting and foraging

habitat identification and protection, public education, and research

to determine biological and habitat requirements of the species as they

apply to identification and protection efforts.

The Mexican long-nosed bat recovery plan has been reviewed by the

appropriate Service staff in Region 2. The plan will be finalized and

approved following incorporation of comments and materials received

during this comment period.

Public Comments Solicited

The Service solicits written comments on the recovery plan

described. All comments received by the date specified above will be

considered prior to the approval of the plan. Because the majority of

this bat's range is found in Mexico, the Service is especially

interested in soliciting comments from Mexican biologists and others

who have studied the bat fauna in Mexico.

Authority

The Authority for this action is section 4(f) of the Endangered

Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 1533(f).

Dated: April 28, 1994.

Lynn B. Starnes,

Acting Regional Director.

[FR Doc. 94-10780 Filed 5-4-94; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310-55-M