Endangered Indiana Bat in Iowa

[Shorthorns4us]

Ok, so my husband has been working on getting our farm plans updated at the NRCS office for next year and yesterday they pull out a new document informing farmers that US Fish and Wildlife Service has amended how to handle this endangered species in our area of Iowa.  This animal has been on the list for awhile, but now they are upgrading how to handle this little guy.
I have had a little time to research what they are doing in my part of Iowa, but basically what I am asking everyone with their experience in working with the NRCS, DNR, US Fish/Wildlife on making changes to your own property with these rules in play. 
This rule now says we can't do any tree clearing without notifying NRCS. - Clean ups, fencelines, etc.
I am going to read more about this and I want to be objective and try to get along with the Feds to help this little bat, but I don't want to have to wait months to get the ok to clean up brush and fencelines  and the like. 
Has anyone else dealt with this in their area and did they make you wait to get approvals or was it a quick process?
What other headaches can we expect dealing with endangered species habitats.
Thanks
Emily Ford

 

[hntwhitetail]

In dealing w/ the Indiana Bat, there is usually certain dates where you can go ahead and tear certain trees down w/o prior approval..  I'm not for sure what the date is in your area.

 

[kfacres]

yes that is true.. I work for the NRCS.. THe main concern is the bats nest under the peeling bark of the shagbark hickory-- both alive and dead trees...

In my county, we're not super worried about it, as we're not quite in the territory of the bats.. but in the county that I grew up in.. The DC throws a fit...  You can however, take these trees down b/w Nov 1 and Mar 1, which is not the nesting or migrating season for the bats- with approval. 

This was also the case when I worked for the army corp of engineers.

 

[Shorthorns4us]

Jody- How long is the wait for approval?  Are they pretty good to tell right away to go. 
I also found some info today about the trees they are most interested in saving-- hickory, cottonwood, several types of oaks, silver maples, American elm.
I have mostly "junk" trees in the fencelines and draws that we need to clean out-  mulberry, sumac, plum, hackberry, cedar, choke cherry
from what I have found, I think we should be able get approval.
Thankis

 

[kfacres]

trees wanted to save are rough barked...  appoval can vary from instant to a long drawn out process such asmy grandparents have been fighting and appealling...  its been going on for 13 months now.

sounds to me you'll be ok  if you just have junk in fence rows especially...  my gparents deal  also contains a so called wetland which is manmade and according to the rules cant be a wetland, but obviously somebody doesnt see it that way