Tracking a Comeback the High-Tech Way by Paul Kingsbury
© Cory Holliday/TNC Gray Bats, Hubbard's Cave
Since 1984, The Nature Conservancy has been working to protect Tennessee caves, particularly caves that shelter bats. The gray bat, an important insect-eater and an endangered species, has been a special focus of our Tennessee Caves Initiative. Over the years, the Conservancy has been involved in the purchase and protection of four key roosting areas for gray bats: Hubbard’s Cave, Pearson’s Cave, Alexander Cave, and Bellamy Cave.
Thanks in large part to the Conservancy’s efforts, the gray bat is making a comeback. For example, at Hubbard's Cave gray bats have rebounded from a low of around 3,000 bats in the 1970s to more than 500,000 in a recent count. In fact, numbers of gray bats appear to be strong enough that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) is considering de-listing the gray bat or downgrading its status from “endangered.” As Cory Holliday, Tennessee cave and karst program manager, says: “This is definitely a success story, like the comeback of the bald eagle.
To ensure that gray bat numbers really are on the rebound, the Conservancy, USFWS, state wildlife agencies, and the Army Corps of Engineers are systematically counting nightly outflights of gray bats at various caves with heat-sensing, infrared digital video and tracking software originally developed by the military to track missiles. Strong numbers could confirm that this bat is no longer on the brink of extinction.
The counts took place during the summer and early fall, and look encouraging. With the bats now hibernating, the counts have paused until warm weather. The project will continue for at least five years.
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