NLEB TCB Zone1 07232024

<span style='font-family:&quot;Avenir Next W01&quot;, &quot;Avenir Next W00&quot;, &quot;Avenir Next&quot;, Avenir, &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, sans-serif; font-size:16px;'>To delineate the year-round active portion of the Northern Long-Eared Bat and Tricolored Bat ranges, we compared winter bat activity data (e.g., captures, acoustic detections, culvert use) and the number of frost-free days and determined that Northern Long-Eared Bat and Tricolored Bat are active year-round in areas where the number of frost-free days is ≥ 200 days. Consequently, we determined Northern Long-Eared Bat and Tricolored Bat are active year-round in all or portions of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, and Virginia (Year-Round Active Zones 1 and 2, Appendix 1). Furthermore, based on a review of winter bat activity data, when temperatures fell below 40 degrees Fahrenheit, Northern Long-Eared Bat and Tricolored Bat were less likely to be detected in mist-net and acoustic surveys. We assume during these colder periods, NLEB and TCB are likely entering a state of prolonged torpor and, consequently, Northern Long-Eared Bat and/or Tricolored Bat roosting in trees may not rouse in sufficient time to flush from tree roosts during tree removal activities. Based on a review of climate data from the last 30 years from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration U.S. Climate Normals54, mean temperatures fell below 40 degrees Fahrenheit between December 15 and February 15 within Year-Round Active Zone 1 (Appendix 1). Therefore, to avoid harm to Northern Long-Eared Bat and Tricolored Bat during the timeframe when mean winter temperatures fall below 40 degrees Fahrenheit and bats roosting in trees are in torpor, suitable roost tree removal should be avoided between December 15 and February 15 within Year-Round Active Zone 1. Although we recognize winter temperatures can occasionally drop below 40 degrees Fahrenheit in Year-Round Active Zone 2, we anticipate these periods would be short in duration.</span><br /><div style='font-family:&quot;Avenir Next W01&quot;, &quot;Avenir Next W00&quot;, &quot;Avenir Next&quot;, Avenir, &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, sans-serif; font-size:16px;'><span style='font-family:inherit;'><br /></span></div><div style='font-family:&quot;Avenir Next W01&quot;, &quot;Avenir Next W00&quot;, &quot;Avenir Next&quot;, Avenir, &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, sans-serif; font-size:16px;'><span style='font-family:inherit;'>For a full explanation of the zones please review the consulation guidance here: https://www.fws.gov/sites/default/files/documents/2024-10/nleb_tcb_consultation_guidance_version-1.0_final_0.pdf</span></div>