Nebraskaland Magazine
LINCOLN – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission has received a $500,000 grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for bat conservation efforts.
Game and Parks was one of 14 recipients of this year’s USFWS State Wildlife Grants. The grants, which were announced earlier this month, are awarded for large-scale conservation projects that cross state lines and yield measurable results to benefit imperiled species. Nebraska has partnered with Wyoming Game and Fish Department to protect habitat for eight imperiled bat species, including the Northern Long-eared, which currently is being considered for Federal listing as an endangered species.
Bats are highly mobile and require a variety of habitats throughout the year as they travel between foraging areas, roosts, and water sources. This project will enhance approximately 1,100 acres of forest, savanna, grassland and riparian habitats and protect two important bat roost areas. The National Wild Turkey Federation, the Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory, the Nebraska Environmental Trust and University of Nebraska at Kearney are also involved in the project.
