River ramp project working around endangered bat
PADUCAH, Ky. (AP) – A western Kentucky city will pay $5,700 to recreate habitat and help conservation efforts for the endangered Indiana bat after habitats were found at the site of a new Ohio River boat ramp. The Paducah City Commission voted this week to spend the money, which goes to the Indiana Bat Conservation Fund. City Planner Rick Murphy told The Paducah Sun (http://bit.ly/MqhCLw ) the city based the payments on habitats found in trees along the shoreline that will be removed. The Indiana bat is a migratory species, which spends most of its year hibernating in caves. Murphy said the city expected to find the bats and construction should begin next spring. The discovery of nearly 550 fat pocketbook mussels in 2009 delayed construction by about two years.
