CNX and our environmental team are leading stewardship for a group of wildlife that is unique and crucial to our region – Appalachian bats! Due primarily to the impacts from White Nose Syndrome, this group requires extra stewardship attention. White Nose Syndrome is a disease that began affecting bats in North America in 2007.

The disease has killed millions of bats, pushing some species to the verge of extinction and requiring protections through Federal Threatened or Endangered designations. The Center for Biological Diversity estimates 6.7 million bats have died since 2006 because of White-nose syndrome, and indicates the epidemic is the worst wildlife disease outbreak in North American history.

Introducing the CNX Mascot

CNX has long co-existed with these incredible creatures, most recently culminating the creation of our “Bats of Appalachia” Stewardship program, and our new mascot: Bitzy the Bat!

From cave cooling projects and installing bat houses across southwest PA to raising funds for public stewardship and education, CNX is committed to reversing the plight of the many species of Appalachian bats and returning them to prominence.

Community Bat Box Project

Since 2019, CNX has collaborated with community parks across southwestern PA to install bat boxes on park grounds. In many instances, community parks are surrounded by residential and commercial development, which reduces the opportunities for bat roosting habitat. Working with the PA Game Commission, CNX identifies the best spot for a large volume bat box (up to 200 bats) on park grounds. From there, CNX volunteers build and install the boxes for the park. We’ve worked with over 10 different organizations, with approximately 15 boxes installed on community parks. For any communities interested in hosting a bat box, please contact Daniel Bitz at danielbitz@cnx.com.

  • 2023 Bat box install with students and faculty from Peters Township High School.
  • 3D view of proposed Wharton Run Smart Cave

Wharton Run Smart Cave

Through our ongoing operations in Greene County, PA, CNX has identified approximately 1,200 acres along the Wharton Run waterway that are home to a high concentration of Federally Endangered and Threatened bat species. Winter is the most critical season for threatened species, and with no known winter hibernacula in the area, Wharton Run is a unique conservation opportunity.

In collaboration with the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), PA Game Commission (PGC), University of Cincinnati (UC) and Bat Conservation International (BCI), the CNX team and partners have designed a first-of-its-kind, manmade bat hibernaculum expected to be built in 2025. CNX and its partners will install this human-made bat hibernaculum with a multitude of breezeways, accesses and corridors for bats to habitate and remain cool during winter, which will help facilitate proper hibernation. The project design is complete and the main components are actively being fabricated by a third party vendor.

  • Bats captured, and released, via mist netting on CNX Wharton Run property
  • Bats captured, and released, via mist netting on CNX Wharton Run property

Additional Bat Conservation Efforts

Beyond the Wharton Run hibernaculum, CNX has established a few significant bat Conservation areas…

In 2018, CNX donated approximately 300 acres of property in Richhill Township, Greene County, to the Pennsylvania Game Commission to expand existing state game lands and develop a bat conservation area. As part of the transaction, a stewardship fund was provided to the PA Game Commission for the perpetual management of the land. This conservation area is actively used by the public for hunting and recreation, while providing its primary function as a bat conservation area.

More recently, and in parallel with the Wharton Run Smart Cave, CNX worked with USFWS to establish a Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances / Safe Harbor Agreement (CCAA/SHA) for the project area. The Agreement is served by installing the human-made bat hibernaculum to provide a refuge to bat species that exist in the surrounding landscape while recovering from WNS. The project also includes the installation of artificial roosting structures (bat boxes) across the enrolled Lands. Eleven roost structures were completed and installed in the spring of 2024.

Within the Enrolled Property, a 500-foot conservation zone surrounding the actual hibernaculum location, referenced as “Hiber Zone,” will have additional management measures. The purpose of this CCAA/SHA is to support collaborative efforts of USFWS and CNX in cooperation with regional agencies and universities and to implement conservation measures for the Covered Species, which include both listed and unlisted species.

  • Bat Roost structures installed in 2024 on the CNX Wharton Run property
  • Bat Roost structures installed in 2024 on the CNX Wharton Run property

Partners

PA Game Commission
Bat Conservation International
USFWS