Copperhead completed a radiotelemetry study to characterize the fall roosting habitat of the endangered Indiana bat near Royal Blue and Sundquist Wildlife Management Areas of northern Tennessee. Designed to collect baseline biological data for the Cumberlands Habitat Conservation Plan, this project involved the capture of Indiana bats at the nearby New Mammoth Cave. Focal bats were fitted with radiotransmitters and subsequently tracked (both from the ground and air) to dayroosts in the study area.
Ohio River Bridges Mussel Survey Kentucky - Jefferson County
During September 2007, Copperhead completed an endangered mussel survey along the worst case scour areas associated with the proposed Ohio River Bridges Project near downtown Louisville, Kentucky. SCUBA techniques were used to survey transects placed along stretches of bottom on both the Kentucky and Indiana sides of the Ohio River. In all, 33 transects were surveyed over eight days of diving.
Jewelwing on Brashears Creek
Integrative Assessment of Indiana bat Response to Anthropogenic Stimuli
Copperhead Consulting participated in a project initiated by the Engineer Research Development Center, Construction Engineering Research Laboratory (ERDC-CERL) of the U.S.Army Corps of Engineers designed to investigate the behavioral, physiological, and immunological responses of tree-roosting bats (including the federally endangered Indiana bat) to selected disturbance stimuli, e.g., military-generated and human presence noise, near day roosts in experimental (Fort Knox, KY) and control (Taylorsville, KY) environments.
The project methodology involved the capture of bats in mist nets and fitting of selected bats with temperature sensitive radiotransmitters. Bats were then tracked to day roosts and the relative ambient noise was measured with analog sound equipment. The vocal response to noise stimuli was also recorded with Patterson ultrasonic bat detectors in an effort to measure the relative activity of bats in response to noise in experimental and control populations. Bat quano and blood was also collected from selected bats in an effort to measure the relative amount of stress hormones.
Snail Delineation Crew, Fall 2007
Cheat Threetooth Snail (Triodopsis platysayoides) Critical Habitat Survey Cheat River Valley, WV
Starting in Summer 2007, Copperhead will be conducting a multi-year delineation of Cheat threetooth snail habitat in the Cheat River Valley of northeastern West Virginia. This project involves the delineation and GPS mapping of critical habitat located within 1,000 acres of the Snakehill Wildlife Management and approximately 8,000 acres owned by Allegheny Wood Products, Inc.
Characteristic notched claw of gray bat
Gray Bat Mistnet and Radio telemetry Study Fort McClellan, AL
Copperhead Consulting was hired by Engineering and Environment, Inc. to conduct a mist net and radio telemetry study of the federal endangered gray bat on Fort McClellan military installation located near Anniston, Alabama. The study was designed to establish presence and characterize foraging habitat with the installation boundary.
Park Lake Mountain Preserve Multi-taxa Inventory
Copperhead Consulting completed a multi-taxa survey of the Park Lake Mountain Preserve located in Fleming County, Kentucky. Completed over the fall of 2006 and spring of 2007, Copperhead biologists surveyed the 180-hectare preserve for reptiles, amphibians, birds, fishes, and small mammals.
U.S. Department of the Army - Fauna Inventory of Fort Knox, KY
In 2005, Copperhead Consulting was employed to develop and implement a survey for state listed species.Fieldwork included mist netting for bats and trapping for small mammals, reptiles and amphibians.Permanent monitoring stations were established to document the presence of reptiles and amphibians.In addition, fish and mussels were surveyed from two streams found at Fort Knox.The purpose of these tasks were to determine the presence/absence of any state or federally endangered species.
Mammal Survey: Cumberland Gap National Historical Park, KY– National Park Service
Copperhead Consulting was hired in 2005 to conduct a mammal survey with in the Cumberland Gap National Historical Park.Surveys within the boundaries of the Park were conducted using a variety of equipment and techniques including: mist netting, Tomahawk box-traps, Sherman box-traps, museum specials, and pit-fall traps to capture bats and small mammals.Larger mammals were documented by examining signs (e.g., tracks, scats, burrows, etc.) or random visual encounters.Scented baits, game calls, and spotlights were used when deemed necessary.
Southern flying squirrel
Rafinesque's big-eared bat
U.S. Department of the Army - Rare Bat Inventory, Fort Bragg, NC
In 2004, Copperhead Consulting was hired to develop and implement a bat survey of the installation to comply with the Sikes Act.The survey was designed to determine if two state endangered species were present on the installation. Locations, where bats could be captured within suitable habitats throughout Fort Bragg were identified.Ten sites were surveyed on two separate nights, once in spring and once in summer.Captured bats were identified, measured, and photographed before being released.This was the first bat inventory conducted on Fort Bragg.Six species were confirmed including the southeastern myotis, one of the state listed species.
South Dakota Department of Game, Fish & Parks - Inventory of Reptiles & Amphibians
Copperhead Consulting was retained in 2004 to lead a detailed reptile and amphibian survey of the southeastern portion of South Dakota in the vicinity of the James and Vermillion Rivers.Inventory methods included: turtle trapping, seining, road surveys, anuran calling indices, and general field searches.Twenty-three species were observed during the survey, including seven state special concern species.Copperhead Consulting provided South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks with detailed species accounts, habitat descriptions, GIS maps indicating observation locations, and quality photographs of the survey.
Section 7 Biological Assessment for Indiana bat, Surface Mining Project, WV
In 2004, Copperhead Consulting was contracted to assist Apogee Environmental Consultants, LLC and Black Castle Mining Company to perform bat surveys for several surface mine permits and to prepare a Section 7 Biological Assessment (B.A.) for potential impacts associated with surface mining operations for a maternity colony of Indiana bats.We worked closely with Apogee in the preparation of the B.A. with regards to the natural history of the species, habitat identification and description, accumulative impacts, and long-term habitat management recommendations.
Indiana bat outfitted with radio transmitter
Bat Ecology Research, Bernheim Forest & Arboretum, KY
As part of Copperhead Consulting’s outreach commitments and dedication to research we designed and are currently in the beginning phase of a five-year study of the bats of Bernheim Forest & Arboretum.The project's primary purpose is to bring awareness to the importance of bats and their role in the environment to the general public and to identify the ecological niche of all species found at the site throughout the year.
These goals are being achieved with the help of a coalition of state and government agencies, consulting firms and interested individuals throughout the eastern United States that have been brought together to participate in the research.Attempts are being made to capture bats at least once a month throughout the year.
Additionally, three weekend programs annually are designed for hands-on experience with techniques used in bat research and conservation for the general public. Participants receive lectures about different species found in the area and their importance.In addition, participants are involved in mist netting activities and experience collecting field data on animals captured. Then, radio transmitters are placed on multiple species and tracked the following day to their respective roosting location.
Descriptions of roosts assist participants to key in on roost selection differences between species.Data collected is presented at professional meetings and published in peer reviewed journals, includingCave and Karst Investigations, Indiana Bat Hibernating Caves, Kentucky – U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services, KY Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources and KY State Nature Preserves Commission.
Copperhead Consulting participates in annual censuses of hibernating Indiana bats throughout caves in Kentucky. An important tool, this data is used by federal and state agencies in determining the status of this endangered bat.Recently, counts were conducted in some of the more technically challenging caves.Knowledge of caving and the use of the proper gear to rappel into pits and caverns is a must in these hibernacula.Survey results are reported to the appropriate government agencies.
Copperhead Environmental Consulting, Inc. 11641 Richmond Road, PO Box 73, Paint Lick, Kentucky 40461 Phone: 859-925-9012 Fax: 859-925-9816
