Noem Introduces Legislation to Prevent FWS from Listing Long-Eared Bat as an Endangered Species

Noem Introduces Legislation to Prevent FWS from
Listing Long-Eared Bat as an Endangered Species

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Kristi Noem today introduced legislation to prevent the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) from listing the long-eared bat as an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act.  Senator Thune introduced the language in the Senate earlier this year.

“It’s widely understood that the long-eared bat’s depopulation is not due to habitat changes, but white-nose syndrome,” said Rep. Noem.  “Focusing on habitat, as the Fish and Wildlife Service proposal and corresponding guidance does, pulls critical and limited resources from the real threats facing the long-eared bat, while also endangering more than 1,500 jobs in the Black Hills area.  Any effort to preserve the species must focus on the disease, not on fulfilling an unproven environmental agenda that could jeopardize South Dakota jobs and turn parts of the Black Hills into a tinder box.”

Listing the long-eared bat as endangered and pursuing regulatory restrictions on forest management could effectively end active management in the Black Hills National Forest, which will cause declining forest health, increase the likelihood of large-scale wildfires, and severely impact the timber industry in the Black Hills. On October 14, 2014, Rep. Noem and Sen. Thune sent a letter to the FWS encouraging the agency to withdraw its proposed listing of the northern long-eared bat as endangered and to refocus its attention on combating white-nose syndrome.

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6 thoughts on “Noem Introduces Legislation to Prevent FWS from Listing Long-Eared Bat as an Endangered Species”

    1. I’d like to see a school with a native american mascot change it to the long-eared bat. what a great idea.

  1. The pure adulterated power of Federal bureaucrats has stifled growth in America for over 100 years with political aspirations on the front end and human interests on the back end. It is high time for a Congressional Rules Committee overseeing every one of them. At least a congressperson can be fired. Bureaucrats seem to be untouchable!

    1. I agree! Who cares about a dumb ding bat! They can go away with the dinosaurs. It’s time we are able to bring REAL economic development with good paying jobs by harvesting timber and strip mining precious metals. You can’t stop progress!

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