working group

South Dakota Bat Working Group
Last update 2 August, 2010

Who are we?

The South Dakota Bat Working Group
The purpose of the SDBWG is to work to protect bats and bat habitat through action, education and cooperation with Federal, State, Tribal, and private landowners. Our objectives are two-fold: to raise awareness about the role bats play in maintaining healthy ecosystems; and to work with public land managers and private landowners and provide alternatives that will reduce possible adverse affects to bats or bat habitat. The SDBWG is a member of the Western States Bat Working Group.

The Western States Bat Working Group (WBWG)
This cooperative is comprised of agencies, organizations and individuals interested in bat research, management, and conservation from 13 western states and the provinces of British Columbia and Alberta. The WBWG grew from an effort in 1994-96 to develop a range-wide conservation strategy for Townsend's big-eared bat as part of a pro-active conservation approach to preclude a formal listing of the species as threatened or endangered. The first formal meeting of the WBWG was in February, 1998, in Reno, Nevada.

WBWG Mission

To facilitate communication among interested parties and reduce risks of species decline or extinction
To provide a mechanism by which information regarding bat ecology, distribution, and research can be accessed
To develop a forum in which conservation strategies can be discussed, help provided, and education encouraged

SDBWG Contacts

Chair: Brad Phillips (605-673-4707) (USDA, Forest Service, Wildlife Biologist)
Vice-Chair: Scott Pedersen (605-688-5529) (Dept. of Biology, SDSU)
Other Contacts: Joel Tigner (605-390-2061) (Batworks-A Chiropteran Consultancy)
Education Chair: Chad Tussing 605-773-2541 (SD Game, Fish & Parks Dept.)

Bat Research Projects in SD [Current Projects]

If you intend to conduct bat research in SD, you are REQUIRED to obtain a
Scientific Sampling & Collecting Permit from the SD-GFP Dept.

BEFORE you commence your research, contact:

Silka Kempema
SDGFP - Acting Scientific Collector Permit Contact
523 E. Capitol-Foss Bldg.
Pierre, S.D. 57501
Silka.Kempema@state.sd.us
(605) 773-2742

PERMIT

GUIDELINES

SD Bat Management Plan (.PDF) (.DOC)

Some of our Partners...