KUAM.com-KUAM News: On Air. Online. On Demand.Plans drafted to save fruit bats population

Plans drafted to save fruit bats population

by Heather Hauswirth

Guam - There are less than 100 fruit bats living on Guam and data collected shows a 40% decline in fanihi in the Marianas.  The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently released a Draft Revised Recovery Plan intended to assist with the recovery of the threatened Marianas Fruit Bat. 

Department of Agriculture Biologist Jeff Quitugua says the plan for proposed recovery actions will address the immediate management of the species to reduce or eliminate hunting so the fanihi can increase.  The plan also calls for protecting their habitat and controlling the brown tree snake. "The main purpose is to address the impacts that are affecting the fruit bat population here in Guam as well as the CNMI," he said.

The public has until June 29 to submit written comments on the Draft Revised Recovery Plan that can be viewed at the Fish and Wildlife Service web site.

Informational meetings will also be held during the comment period, but the locations and times of those meetings have yet to be announced.