Direction and standards for the management of the endangered Indiana bat were established in August of 2000. Since then, additional information has become available regarding desirable habitat elements for the species. This new knowledge is enabling the USFS to more clearly define desired conditions, establish more appropriate monitoring and allow greater management flexibility in certain situations.

The Forest Service has worked together with the Fish and Wildlife Service in crafting this amended language to ensure this plan amendment will be equally protective of the Indiana bat as the current direction. Wild South will be filing comments to ensure protection for the bat and its habitat.