Northern Long-eared Bat Moves From Threatened to Endangered

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MONTPELIER, Vt. — The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's reclassification of the northern long-eared bat from threatened to endangered status came into effect Friday, March 31, 2023.
 
In Vermont, the northern-long eared bat received a state endangered status in 2011 due to rapid and drastic declines caused by the deadly fungal disease white-nose syndrome.  It received federal threatened status in 2015 after the disease had spread throughout the Northeast, but not the entire range of the species.
 
Following white-nose syndrome's expansion across the United States and Canada, the northern long-eared bat has experienced similarly dramatic population declines throughout most of its range.  In Vermont, this once-common species of mature forest habitats has declined by 98 percent in the underground hibernation sites where it overwinters.  The USFWS' reclassification comes in response to this trend.
 
In anticipation of the reclassification to federal endangered status coming into effect, the USFWS released a planning tool and interim guidance earlier this month. These resources cover potential impacts to development, infrastructure, and land management projects in the northern long-eared bat's range that require federal approval, have received federal funding, or are carried out by a federal agency starting in April 2023.  Non-federal projects will also be able to evaluate potential impacts to the northern long-eared bat with the USFWS planning tool.
 
The USFWS is expected to issue final guidance by April 2024.  In addition, the reclassification may impact the buffer distances around known northern long-eared bat hibernacula and roosts in Vermont. 
 
The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department and partners have been proactive in tracking the state's northern long-eared bat population and implementing protections like the 2011 state endangered designation.  Because of this advance effort, the reclassification to federal endangered status is not expected to have major impacts on Vermont landowners, land managers, or developers.

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Bennington College Offering Late-Decision Applications

BENNINGTON, Vt. — Bennington College has launched a college admissions application round for prospective students: late decision. This new admissions round responds to the evolving needs of prospective students navigating their college search.
 
"Each April, selective college admissions directors take calls from their college counseling colleagues on the other side of the desk. They share stories of applicants who are either not satisfied with their options or wish to rethink them for various reasons and inquire about accepting a late application," said David Buckwald, the college's vice president for enrollment management and marketing.
 
Bennington wants to democratize this opportunity and turn it into an application round for all prospective students who haven't previously applied this year.
 
"With the changing political and environmental climate, we believe there are even more students than usual who want to consider our creative, close, and inclusive community in beautiful Vermont," said President Laura Walker.
 
The late decision application round, designed for students who are discovering Bennington later in their senior year or gap year, opens on Monday, March 10. Students can apply via the common application or Bennington's dimensional application, with a deadline of April 8. Admissions decisions will be sent out on April 17, and accepted students will have until May 1 to reply. Like early action and regular decision, it is a non-binding admissions round. 
 
The college will host an on-campus event, BenningtonNext, on April 28, for admitted students to visit and speak with faculty and students. 
 
As a test-optional institution with a dimensional application, Bennington College has long been a leader in holistic admissions. Late decision is an extension of that student-driven approach. 
 
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