Bat species designation could delay projects, Kansas developers say

The northern long-eared bat’s population has declined by 99 percent in the Northeast, and the biggest threat against its survival, the white-nose syndrome fungal disease, appears to be spreading toward the west.

The Wichita Eagle reports that as a result, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is likely to classify the bat as either a threatened or endangered species this spring, and that could have an impact on Kansas projects. For example, if the bat is endangered, it could cause problems for the…