39. The Human Impact - The Endangered Gray Bat

Abstract

The Human Impact – The Endangered Gray Bat

The population of the gray bat (Myotis grisescens) has declined drastically over the past 50 years. The destruction and pollution of the land around their habitats has had a significant effect on their ability to forage and roost. Effluent from a North Carolina water treatment facility has been detected in the environment of the gray bats in the southeast United States, making the water quality dangerously bad. Additionally, gray bats are very skittish and easy to scare, so disturbance of their caves often results in their migration to another cave. Unfortunately, they have very little caves suitable to be their habitat, so disturbance can mean death for many gray bats. With these problems out of their sphere of influence, the blame for their endangerment can be placed only on humans. The endangerment of the gray bat is a direct result of human activity. Protection of occupied caves, as well as suitable management of the surrounding forest and nearby aquatic foraging sites, will be necessary to maintain and enhance gray bat populations. Humans have been disturbing the habitat of the gray bat through vandalism, pollution, and cave exploration, resulting in the endangerment of this species.