The Hawaiian Hoary Bat by Madison Fawcett

Figure 1: Notice the reddish color of the Hawaiian Hoary Bat

The Hawaiian Hoary Bat ( Lasiurus cinereus semotus)

Summarize Description and Ecology of Organism

Figure 2: Notice its petite size and 'hoary' appearance

The Hawaiian Hoary Bat (Lasiurus cinereus semotus), or ‘Ōpe‘ape‘a in Hawaiian,  is a medium sized (0.5-0.8 ounces), nocturnal, insectivorous endangered bat. The bat is extremely furry with a brown/ gray/ white color giving it its frosted, ‘hoary’ appearance. The Hawaiian Hoary Bat usually appears to have a more reddish fur color than the North American Hoary Bat. Additionally, The Hawaiian Hoary Bat has short, thick, and rounded ears that are black around the edges. Compared to the North American Hoary Bat, The Hawaiian Hoary Bat has a smaller body size and a relatively larger skull size. A fun fact about these bats is that the females are usually larger than the males!

Figure 3: This is an example of a preferred habitat for the bats

It is an endemic, solitary, bat that likes to live among the foliage in trees. Moreover, they have been found in open habitats with lots of vegetation like open fields near native or nonnative vegetation, over the open ocean, lava flows or streams and ponds. The Hawaiian Hoary Bat’s diet consists mostly of moths but includes mosquitoes, beetles, crickets, and termites and a positive trait the bat carries is that it is highly unselective when choosing a tree to roost in.

Geographic and Population Changes

Figure 4:  the Hawaiian islands where the bats reside

The Hawaiian Hoary Bat is located on the islands of Hawaii, Maui, Oahu, Kauai, and Molokai. The largest populations of the Hawaiian Hoary Bat are thought to be on Kauai and Hawaii. Since there is such limited research conducted on the Hawaiian Hoary Bat, the population number is not known, but it is believed that population numbers have declined in the past hundred years. This is most likely due to habitat loss. In Hawaii most bats are found between sea level and 7,500 feet elevation.

      

Listing Date and Type of Listing

On October 13, 1970 the Hawaiian Hoary Bat was listed as endangered. May 11, 1998 is the recovery plan date for the Hawaiian Hoary Bat. Additionally, the Hawaiian Hoary Bat has a recovery priority number of 9 meaning that the subspecies has a moderate degree of threat and a high potential for recovery.

Cause of listing and Main threats to its continued existence

Due to the overall lack of information on the Hawaiian Hoary Bat, the decline of bat population has been mostly inferred. The numbers of bats have decreased significantly in Oahu which is one of the reasons it is listed. The main threats to the Hawaiian hoary Bats existence are habitat loss, pesticides, predation, and roost disturbance. The decline of the Hawaiian Hoary bat may be primarily due to the reduction of tree cover in the past.

Description of Recovery Plan

The goal of this recovery plan is to determine actual population status and habitats. Not enough information is known about the Hawaiian Hoary Bat and determining the actual population size is not practical; however, it is necessary because of how the population and natural history are not understood. Moreover, a goal is to develop standardized survey and monitoring techniques in order to collect basic life history information and population numbers in the island of Hawaii. Additionally, tasks including the development of education programs to inform the public about the biology of the Hawaiian hoary bats will be implemented. With this in place, the population of the Hawaiian Hoary Bats can be accurately assessed so that conservation methods can positively impact the already declining population.

What can you do?

There is something everyone can do to help contribute to the safety and preservation of the Hawaiian Hoary Bat. “If you know you have ‘ōpe‘ape‘a in your area, protect roosting sites–don’t cut tall trees until after the summer pupping season.  If you are installing a fence in a pasture, consider using barbless wire on the top strand to prevent snagging a hunting bat. If you find a dead bat on Maui, contact Fern Duvall, Wildlife Biologist with the Department of Land and Natural Resources, at 873-3502. You can help scientists learn more about the genetics and habits of this cryptic creature—far more spectacular than spooky”(Sing).

Other resources

If your interested in learning more about the Hawaiian Hoary Bat or would like to donate to saving bats, go to http://www.batcon.org!

Images

Figure 1: https://www.usgs.gov/media/images/endangered-hawaiian-hoary-bat

Figure 2: http://mauiinvasive.org/2014/12/01/hawaiian-hoary-bat-our-only-native-land-mammal/

Figure 3: http://www.hawaiireporter.com/hawaii-government-approves-destruction-of-rare-bird-and-endangered-bat-habitat-public-shut-out/

Figure 4: https://ecos.fws.gov/docs/recovery_plan/980511b.pdf

Works Cited:

Misc. “Hawaiian Hoary Bat-Our Only Native Land Mammal.” Maui Invasive Species Committee (MISC), 16 Aug. 2017, mauiinvasive.org/2014/12/01/hawaiian-hoary-bat-our-only-native-land-mammal/.

Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife. “Species Profile for Hawaiian Hoary Bat.” Species Profile for Hawaiian Hoary Bat (Lasiurus Cinereus Semotus), ecos.fws.gov/ecp0/profile/speciesProfile;jsessionid=ED8A4E7FF3C7B3AAA5231364D871E060?spcode=A03W.

Singer, Sydney Ross. “Hawaii Government Approves Destruction of Rare Bird and Endangered Bat Habitat: Public Shut Out.” Hawaii Reporter, 21 Sept. 2011, www.hawaiireporter.com/hawaii-government-approves-destruction-of-rare-bird-and-endangered-bat-habitat-public-shut-out/.

Worthington, David. Recovery Plan for the Hawaiian Hoary Bat (Lasiurus Cinereus Semotus). Region 1, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1998.