SOUTH DAKOTA
BAT WORKING GROUP

In the end,
we will conserve only what we love,
we will love only what we understand,
we will understand only what we are taught.
- Baba Dioum
Drawing: Ned Smith

Important Note to Bat Researchers in SD: 

If you intend to conduct bat work in South Dakota, you are REQUIRED to obtain a Scientific Sampling and Collecting Permit from the S.D. Game, Fish and Parks Department BEFORE you commence your research [Doug Backlund, (605) 773-4345, Doug.Backlund@state.sd.us]. There are several GF&P scientific and regulatory protocols that must also be followed. The following web-site contains a downloadable PDF.format application:

Sampling + Collecting Permit

Sampling + Protocol Guidelines

[NEW] 2008 document concerning Wind Power and Wildlife (,pdf)

[NEW] RABIES SURVEILLANCE (update)

[NEW] BATS & WHITE NOSE SYNDROME (.pdf)

[NEW] BAT BOOKS FOR SCHOOLS

As part of our education goal, the SD Bat Working Group has organized a BAT BOOK FUND to purchase library books for public elementary schools in South Dakota. Donations are tax deductible and can be made for any amount. Donors wishing to sponsor a complete 12 book set can specify the recipient school if they so wish

WESTERN BAT WORKING GROUP- SD BOOK FUND
Box 2153, RAPID CITY, SD 57709

Contact Brad Phillips (605-721-6607) with questions re: donations
Contact Joel Tigner (605-390-2061) with questions re: books/recipient schools.

[NEW] WATER FOR WILDLIFE PROJECT

Bat Conservation International has recently published Water for Wildlife, a handbook that provides instructions for constructing economical and efficient escape structures that will eliminate wildlife mortality in livestock water tanks. We would like to get copies to State wildlife department personnel, ranchers, and range managers. Copies can be found at http://www.batcon.org. In a continuing effort to help, biologists contacted a company that manufactures fiberglass stock tanks who now mold escape ramps directly into the tank. Fiberglass Structures, Inc. (Laurel, MT) are to be commended for their pro-active stance on this issue. More info on this tank?

If you would like more information on the project of the handbook, contact:
Dan Taylor - (858)-551-5105 7325 Cuvier Street, La Jolla, CA 92037

Recent Issues/Activities

Publication regarding Natural History Collections in SD

WILDLIFE DIVERSITY SMALL GRANTS -
Doug Backlund SD GFG&P - SD Natural Heritage Program
523 E. Capitol-Foss Bldg., Pierre, S.D. 57501

Bat Conservation + Wind-Power
Updated by S. Kempema SD-GF&P

Western Bat Working Group Meetings
Western Bat Working Group Website

Bat Conservation International Workshops
Announcement // Registration // Application

SARS-Coronavirus Antibody Prevalence in Bat Biologists:
Summary of Preliminary Results  
Contact: Lauren Stockman,CDC, 404-639-3064

Abandoned Mines as Wildlife Habitat
Abandoned Mines as Wildlife Habitat
Contact: Joel Tigner, batworks@rushmore.com, 605-721-4564

SD-BWG Resources...

I have BATS in my house! What do I do?

FAQ's Concerning Bats in North America

Bats that live in South Dakota

Bat Education Programs in South Dakota

Bat Rabies in South Dakota

NASBR Resolution Regarding Rabies

Bat Projects & Field Research in South Dakota

Status and Conservation Needs of Bats of the Black Hills (.PDF)
by J. Tigner & E. Dowd Stukel, SD Department of Game Fish, & Parks
Wildlife Division Report 2003-05, March 2003

South Dakota Bat Management Plan (.PDF) (.DOC)
by A. Kiesow et al., SD Department of Game Fish, & Parks

Bat surveys along the Missouri River
by A. Kiesow SD Department of Game Fish, & Parks

Bat survey at the Buffalo Gap National Grasslands
This bat survey is being conducted by Joel Tigner and focuses upon riparian areas on the Buffalo Gap National Grasslands (2004-05). In 2005, Tigner found 6 species in this area: Townsend's Big-eared Bat, Big Brown Bat, Red Bat, Hoary Bat, Western Small-footed Bat, and Northern Myotis. This project is an action item in the SD Bat Mgmt Plan.

Bat Call library
Joel Tigner has taken the lead on establishing a bat call library for plains states bats. This is a major undertaking by several agencies (Batworks, USFS, SDGFP) that will require a great deal of fieldwork to record bat calls using acoustic detectors. In an attempt to coordinate these efforts with surrounding states (CO, WY, ND) we held a workshop in the use of Sonobat Software and Pettersson acoustic Detectors in Rapid City summer 2005. Tigner is also compiling a database of all literature and research regarding bats in South Dakota. The information in the database will be available to other researchers upon request. These projects are an action item in the SD Bat Mgmt Plan.

Links to Important SDBWG Partners...

Report all dead links/images to Scott_Pedersen@SDSTATE.edu

If you have questions about the content of this page, contact:
Scott C. Pedersen, Ph.D., Dept. Biology & Microbiology
South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD 57007-0595
T-605-688-5529, F-6677