99% Of PA Bats Dead From White-Nose, But Protecting Remainder Too Expensive, Say Industries

[hatrack]

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In Pennsylvania, the state Game Commission is soliciting comments about giving endangered status to the tricolored bat, the little brown bat, and the northern long-eared bat. Industry representatives expressed concern about that, said Jerry Feaser, a spokesman for the Pennsylvania Game Commission.

Paul Lyskava, executive director of the Pennsylvania Forest Products Association, said listing some bat species as endangered could damage the logging and timber industries. In some cases, it could mean no tree removals between April 1 and Nov. 15, he said.

"Preserving the bats is very important. What the Game Commission is considering is going too far, though. What's happening to bats is taking place in the caves, not in trees," Lyskava said.

Pennsylvania is the largest producer of hardwoods in the United States, and 60,000 people are employed by forestry companies in the state. Some legislators also object to protected status. "I like bats. I just like humans better," said State Rep. Jeff Pyle, whose district in Armstrong and Indiana Counties includes mining, farming, and hydraulic fracturing operations.

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http://www.philly.com/philly/business/20121217_Industries_say_measures_to_save_Pa__bats_too_costly.html

[Kolesar]

1. The railheads near Allegheny National Forest have tons of harvested cherry trees

They are largely shipped to European customers who build "high end" furniture.

This is a tuffie.

[drm604]

2. The economic costs of losing the bats may be greater than the costs of saving them.

Gillis thinks such opposition is shortsighted. "The logging industry will be more hurt by sick and diseased forests than by taking steps to protect bats," she said.

The typical bat eats 3,000 to 4,000 insects nightly. Bats provide pest-control to agriculture valued from $3.7 billion to $53 billion a year, studies show.