Allen's Big-eared Bat - New Mexico State Wildlife Action Plan

Agriculture and Aquaculture Pollution

Assess the synergistic effects between climate change and other threats to SGCN and their habitats (e.g., Friggens et al. 2019, Parks et al. 2019). Incorporate appropriate climate adaptation strategies and frameworks into projects designed to address these synergistic effects. This may include enhancing connectivity (CEQ 2023), facilitating a species’ innate adaptive capacity (Thurman et al. 2022), enhancing genetic diversity (Powell 2023), considering local adaptation (Meek et al. 2023), or considering whether it is most appropriate to resist, accept, or direct ecosystem transformation (Lynch et al. 2021, Stevens et al. 2021). Projects should acknowledge ecosystem dynamism and incorporate indigenous knowledge (e.g., Roos et al. 2022, Eisenberg et al. 2024), nature-based solutions (Warnell et al. 2023), and experimentation (Guiterman et al. 2022) when appropriate. Potential collaborators: BLM, NPS, USFS, USFWS, USGS, universities, Tribal natural-resource managers.

Agriculture and Aquaculture Pollution

Assess the synergistic effects between climate change and other threats to SGCN and their habitats (e.g., Friggens et al. 2019, Parks et al. 2019). Incorporate appropriate climate adaptation strategies and frameworks into projects designed to address these synergistic effects. This may include enhancing connectivity (CEQ 2023), facilitating a species’ innate adaptive capacity (Thurman et al. 2022), enhancing genetic diversity (Powell 2023), considering local adaptation (Meek et al. 2023), or considering whether it is most appropriate to resist, accept, or direct ecosystem transformation (Lynch et al. 2021, Stevens et al. 2021). Projects should acknowledge ecosystem dynamism and incorporate indigenous knowledge (e.g., Roos et al. 2022, Eisenberg et al. 2024), nature-based solutions (Warnell et al. 2023), and experimentation (Guiterman et al. 2022) when appropriate. Potential collaborators: BLM, NPS, USFS, USFWS, USGS, universities, Tribal natural-resource managers.

Agriculture and Aquaculture

Balance irrigation and groundwater demands with the needs of aquatic communities, particularly those supporting native fish, amphibian, and springsnail populations. This may include promoting a transition from irrigated to dryland farming in areas where groundwater pumping and water scarcity threaten SGCN and their habitats. Potential collaborators: BOR, NRCS, USACE, NMOSE, non-profit organizations, private landowners, Tribal natural-resource managers, water-management districts.

Agriculture and Aquaculture Pollution

Collaborate with interested and willing land managers and private landowners to designate protected areas or implement conservation easements for lands that encompass important SGCN habitats. Potential collaborators: BLM, NPS, NRCS, USFS, USFWS, SLO, non-profit organizations, private landowners.

Agriculture and Aquaculture Pollution

Collaborate with interested and willing land managers and private landowners to designate protected areas or implement conservation easements for lands that encompass important SGCN habitats. Potential collaborators: BLM, NPS, NRCS, USFS, USFWS, SLO, non-profit organizations, private landowners.

Pollution

Determine effects of, and implement actions to mitigate negative effects from, agro- (e.g., neonicotinoids, other pesticides) (Sanchez-Bayo 2021, EPA 2023) and petrochemicals, synthetic chemicals (e.g., per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances [PFAS]), microplastics, urban runoff, and other pollutants (e.g., sewage, nutrients, toxic chemicals, sediment) on SGCN, especially fish and pollinating insects, and their habitats. This includes solid waste that may entangle wildlife. Potential collaborators: EPA, NMDA, NMED, universities, local governments, municipalities, private industry.

Agriculture and Aquaculture

Determine how timing, intensity, and duration of livestock grazing affect SGCN and their habitats, including the interactions among grazing, fire, and the spread of invasive and problematic species and among grazing, soil erosion (e.g., Pilon et al. 2017), and native riparian vegetation growth (e.g., Lucas et al. 2004). Potential collaborators: BLM, NRCS, USFS, NMDA, SLO, universities, private landowners, Tribal natural-resource managers.

Agriculture and Aquaculture Pollution

Determine life history needs, ecology, distribution, movements, status, and trends of and threats to SGCN (especially invertebrates that are not currently monitored, riparian-obligate species, herpetofauna [Pierce et al. 2016, Olson and Pilliod 2022], and rare native fishes) and their habitats. Consider full annual cycles for migratory species when appropriate and logistically feasible (KFF 2021) and interactions with lower trophic levels that may drive SGCN status (e.g., EPA 2023). Use this information to develop and implement effective monitoring protocols and conservation actions, including actions to mitigate identified threats. Potential collaborators: BLM, BOR, NPS, USFS, USFWS, SLO, universities, non-profit organizations, private industry, species working groups, Tribal natural-resource managers.

Agriculture and Aquaculture Pollution

Determine life history needs, ecology, distribution, movements, status, and trends of and threats to SGCN (especially invertebrates that are not currently monitored, riparian-obligate species, herpetofauna [Pierce et al. 2016, Olson and Pilliod 2022], and rare native fishes) and their habitats. Consider full annual cycles for migratory species when appropriate and logistically feasible (KFF 2021) and interactions with lower trophic levels that may drive SGCN status (e.g., EPA 2023). Use this information to develop and implement effective monitoring protocols and conservation actions, including actions to mitigate identified threats. Potential collaborators: BLM, BOR, NPS, USFS, USFWS, SLO, universities, non-profit organizations, private industry, species working groups, Tribal natural-resource managers.

Agriculture and Aquaculture

Determine where habitat restoration would benefit SGCN and work with federal, state, Tribal, and private landowners to restore degraded rangelands to good or excellent condition. Monitor restoration results to develop and initiate any identified improvements to restoration practices. Potential collaborators: BLM, USFS, SLO, private landowners, Tribal natural-resource managers.

Agriculture and Aquaculture

Employ existing incentive programs to promote persistence of productive wildlife habitat and native vegetation on private lands, SGCN conservation, and retirement of agricultural fields and water rights where feasible. Support maintenance and growth of incentive programs. Potential collaborators: BLM, NRCS, USFWS, NMDA, SLO, private landowners.

Agriculture and Aquaculture

Establish baseline composition, condition, disturbance regimes, and function of major range habitats to inform habitat-restoration actions, particularly for piñon (Pinus spp.)-juniper (Juniperus spp.), sagebrush, and riparian habitats. Includes addressing tree invasion into grassland meadows and shrub invasion into historic grasslands. Potential collaborators: BLM, USFS, SFD, SLO, universities, private landowners, Tribal natural-resource managers.

Pollution

Evaluate and mitigate the effects of air pollution from industrial activities, including methane released by flaring associated with oil and gas extraction and leaking from old oil and gas wells, and in urban areas on SGCN and their habitats (e.g., Duque and Dewenter 2024). Evaluate and mitigate the effects of other types of pollution, including excess generation of heat, light, and/or sound from industrial activities, urban areas, and highways on SGCN and their habitats. Potential collaborators: BLM, EMNRD, NMDOT, NMED, energy and mining companies, municipalities, utility companies.

Agriculture and Aquaculture Pollution

Evaluate the effectiveness of public education and outreach efforts regarding threats to SGCN and their habitats and the ways that the public can assist in threat mitigation (KFF 2021). Modify outreach activities as needed in response to evaluation outcomes. Potential collaborators: BLM, BOR, NPS, USACE, USFS, USFWS, USGS, NMED, NMSP, SFD, SLO, universities, local governments, municipalities, non-profit organizations.

Agriculture and Aquaculture Pollution

Evaluate the effectiveness of public education and outreach efforts regarding threats to SGCN and their habitats and the ways that the public can assist in threat mitigation (KFF 2021). Modify outreach activities as needed in response to evaluation outcomes. Potential collaborators: BLM, BOR, NPS, USACE, USFS, USFWS, USGS, NMED, NMSP, SFD, SLO, universities, local governments, municipalities, non-profit organizations.

Agriculture and Aquaculture

Gather and assess current information on grazing practices and determine how the Department can support landowners that provide habitat for SGCN. Potential collaborators: BLM, NRCS, USFS, NMDA, SLO, private landowners, Tribal natural-resource managers.

Agriculture and Aquaculture

Identify human-constructed water-retention structures (e.g., stock tanks, water troughs, and drinkers) that provide habitat for aquatic SGCN and other wildlife, particularly amphibians. Remove invasive species (e.g., bullfrogs [Rana (Aquarana) catesbeiana]) from these structures that may threaten native aquatic wildlife. Potential collaborators: BLM, USFS, universities, private landowners, Tribal natural-resource managers.

Agriculture and Aquaculture Pollution

Identify or develop an accessible, jointly used database to document the status and condition of, threats to, and conservation actions implemented across aquatic, riparian, and upland habitats. Identify data gaps (e.g., Ganey et al. 2017) and implement standardized methods to gather habitat data (e.g., Vollmer et al. 2018, Shirk et al. 2023) and to monitor the success of conservation actions (e.g., Davis and Pinto 2021), including impacts on local SGCN populations. Synthesize existing information (e.g., Jain et al. 2021) and apply modeling techniques to aid in evaluating success when appropriate (e.g., Parks et al. 2018). Adjust future conservation actions as needed based on observed outcomes. Potential collaborators: BLM, BOR, NPS, USACE, USFS, USFWS, USGS, NMED, SFD, SLO, universities.

Agriculture and Aquaculture Pollution

Identify or develop an accessible, jointly used database to document the status and condition of, threats to, and conservation actions implemented across aquatic, riparian, and upland habitats. Identify data gaps (e.g., Ganey et al. 2017) and implement standardized methods to gather habitat data (e.g., Vollmer et al. 2018, Shirk et al. 2023) and to monitor the success of conservation actions (e.g., Davis and Pinto 2021), including impacts on local SGCN populations. Synthesize existing information (e.g., Jain et al. 2021) and apply modeling techniques to aid in evaluating success when appropriate (e.g., Parks et al. 2018). Adjust future conservation actions as needed based on observed outcomes. Potential collaborators: BLM, BOR, NPS, USACE, USFS, USFWS, USGS, NMED, SFD, SLO, universities.

Agriculture and Aquaculture

Promote expanded use of appropriate, cost-effective grazing practices that ensure long-term ecological sustainability for SGCN and their habitats (especially riparian habitats). These include actions such as rest-rotation grazing management and conservation easements (Gripne 2005) that contribute to recovery of rangelands impacted by drought and allow restoration activities to be completed. May also include the use of virtual fencing to keep livestock in desired locations and out of sensitive areas (USFS 2024). Potential collaborators: BLM, USFS, SLO, private landowners, Tribal natural-resource managers.

Agriculture and Aquaculture

Promote grazing systems that address local needs of livestock and for SGCN habitat, including riparian areas. When particular habitat components need improvement, coordinate with ranchers and resource managers to identify and implement modifications that would provide the desired habitat outcomes. BLM, USFS, SLO, private landowners, Tribal natural-resource managers.

Agriculture and Aquaculture

Promote grazing systems that incorporate rested pastures and help improve overall range condition and enhance wildlife habitat health and function. In upland areas, these systems may include rest-rotation and/or deferred-rotation. In riparian areas, beneficial grazing practices may also include grazing in early spring and restricting summer grazing and redistribution practices such as herding and developing drinking water sources in upland areas. Especially during times of drought, rested pastures can provide forage reserves and relieve pressure on grazed pastures or allotments. Potential collaborators: BLM, NRCS, USFS, USFWS, SLO, private landowners, Tribal natural-resource managers.

Agriculture and Aquaculture

Promote use of ecoregion-appropriate agricultural practices that provide habitat or resources or protect habitat quality (e.g., reduce erosion) for SGCN, including planting rows of trees between crops (McCarthy 2024) and pollinator-friendly practices such as planting pollinator habitat along field margins and underutilized areas, revegetating retired farmland with wildflowers, including pollinator-friendly forbs in cover-crop seed mixes (O’Brien and Arathi 2021), waiting to mow along acequias or other areas until after pollinator-friendly plants finish flowering (e.g., Xerces Society 2018), and conserving semi-natural habitat near agricultural fields (Shi et al. 2024). Potential collaborators: NRCS, USFWS, NMDA, private landowners, Tribal natural-resource managers.

Pollution

Where appropriate, develop green infrastructure and nature-based solutions (Warnell et al. 2023) in urban areas that catch and slow stormwater runoff to prevent pollution from entering aquatic ecosystems and promote groundwater recharge. Potential collaborators: NMDOT, local governments, municipalities, private landowners.

Agriculture and Aquaculture

Where appropriate, incorporate native, pollinator-friendly plants (Glenny et al. 2022) or native plants adapted to projected future climatic conditions at the restoration site (e.g., Meek et al. 2023, Stanturf et al. 2024) into seed mixes and live plantings used in the restoration of lands affected by grazing, fire, resource extraction, energy development, or urban development. Consider reclamation site conditions, genetic diversity, and resilience to local threats when producing seedlings (Davis and Pinto 2021) and consider appropriate climate analogs when identifying appropriate seed sources (e.g., Richardson et al. 2024). When focused on benefiting pollinators, prioritize plants that are attractive to pollinators, especially SGCN; support pollinators throughout the growing season (Glenny et al. 2023); provide food for caterpillars of insect SGCN (e.g., Dumroese et al. 2016); and produce pollen with high nutritional diversity (Vaudo et al. 2024). Potential collaborators: BLM, NPS, NRCS, USFS, SFD, SLO, energy and mining companies, non-profit organizations, private landowners, Tribal natural-resource managers.

Agriculture and Aquaculture

Where appropriate, promote the use of flood irrigation for crops such as grass hay in historic riparian floodplains of upper watershed regions to mimic natural processes (i.e., seasonal flooding) and benefit SGCN and other wildlife (Donnelly et al. 2024). Potential collaborators: NRCS, NMDA, non-profit organizations, private landowners, Tribal natural-resource managers.

Pollution

Work with appropriate agencies that enforce mining and energy development regulations, Best Management Practices, and safeguards to protect water quality and minimize SGCN mortality associated with mining and energy development. Assess impacts to SGCN and their habitats from industrial activities, including mining and energy development. These impacts may include direct mortality; pollution from produced wastewater (including brine and hydraulic injection fluids), transport of extracted or waste products, or acid mine drainage; noise and light pollution from energy development activities, and sediment runoff from roads. Potential collaborators: BLM, USFS, EMNRD, NMED, SLO, energy and mining companies, local governments.

Agriculture and Aquaculture

Work with private landowners to improve irrigation processes and infrastructure to conserve water. Includes promoting the use of devices and models that improve water conservation and irrigation efficiency (Schaible and Aillery 2012, Wang 2019) to help conserve the structure and function of aquatic and riparian habitats. Potential collaborators: NRCS, NMOSE.

Scientific Name	Idionycteris phyllotis
Category	D
Taxon	Mammals
Climate Change Vulnerability Score	Less Vulnerable

State Wildlife Action Plan for New Mexico

New Mexico State Wildlife Action Plan

Allen’s Big-eared Bat

Related Resources

State Wildlife Action Plan for New Mexico

New Mexico State Wildlife Action Plan

Allen’s Big-eared Bat

Ecoregions

Arizona/New Mexico Mountains

Chihuahuan Desert

Colorado Plateaus

Madrean Archipelago

Habitats

Threats and Conservation Actions

Related Resources