Allegheny woodrat and eastern small-footed bat Inventory at Cumberland Gap National Historical Park 2021 - Open Format Dataset (sensitive version)

Surveys were conducted for the presence of Allegheny woodrats, eastern small-footed bats, and their habitat within Sample Units surrounding potential climbing routes on the White Rocks cliff of Cumberland Gap National Historical Park. White Rocks is a 200-300ft south facing cliff along the Virginia- Kentucky border that contains the typical habitat requirements of both species: rock ledges, outcrops, or a network of fissures and crevices surrounded by forested habitat. The eastern small-footed bat uses this type of habitat primarily during the summer months for roosting while the Allegheny woodrat is present year-round building nests within deep crevices. The eastern small-footed bat is listed as threatened in Kentucky and both are considered Species of Greatest Conservation Need in Virginia. The rock-climbing community has approached the National Park Service with interest in opening the cliff to recreational climbing. The results of this survey will be used to assess impacts to the species and aid in the studies required for the potential development of a formal climbing management plan. Surveys were conducted from August 24 to September 3, 2021, and included searches of the cliff face via rappelling, ground searches of suitable habitat surrounding the rim and base of the climbing routes, and noninvasive woodrat camera trap and bat acoustic surveys. Suitable eastern small-footed bat and Allegheny woodrat habitat was documented along all eleven potential climbing routes, and results of the acoustic and camera trap surveys confirmed the presence of both species. For more information see the report here: https://irma.nps.gov/DataStore/Reference/Profile/2302513

本调查针对坎伯兰峡国家历史公园（Cumberland Gap National Historical Park）白岩悬崖周边潜在攀岩路线沿线的样地单元（Sample Units）内的阿勒格尼林鼠（Allegheny Woodrat）、东部小足蝠（Eastern Small-footed Bat）及其栖息生境开展。白岩悬崖是坐落于弗吉尼亚州与肯塔基州边界沿线、朝向正南的200至300英尺高悬崖，具备两种物种所需的典型栖息生境条件：岩架、露头，或被森林生境环绕的裂隙与岩缝网络。东部小足蝠主要在夏季利用此类生境栖息，而阿勒格尼林鼠全年可见，于深邃岩缝中筑巢。东部小足蝠在肯塔基州被列为受威胁物种，二者在弗吉尼亚州均被列为最高保护优先级物种（Species of Greatest Conservation Need）。攀岩社群已向美国国家公园管理局（National Park Service）提出申请，希望将该悬崖开放为休闲攀岩场地。本次调查结果将用于评估相关活动对目标物种的影响，并助力潜在正式攀岩管理方案制定所需的相关研究。本次调查于2021年8月24日至9月3日开展，调查方式包括：通过垂降（rappelling）探查崖面、对攀岩路线周边崖缘与基部的适宜生境进行地面搜索，以及针对林鼠的非侵入式相机陷阱（camera trap）调查和针对蝙蝠的声学监测（acoustic surveys）。本次调查在全部11条潜在攀岩路线沿线均记录到适宜东部小足蝠与阿勒格尼林鼠栖息的生境，声学与相机陷阱调查结果也证实了两种物种的存在。如需获取更多信息，请参阅以下报告：https://irma.nps.gov/DataStore/Reference/Profile/2302513