Abstract
The Fowler Ridge Wind Farm (FRWF) is located in Benton County, Indiana, and currently consists of 355 wind turbines in three operating phases (Figure 1). A post-construction casualty study of birds and bats was conducted by Western EcoSystems Technology, Inc. (WEST) in Phases I and III during 2009 (Johnson et al. 2010a, 2010b, Good et al. 2011). During such study, an Indiana bat carcass was discovered by staff at the FRWF. A Scientific Research and Recovery Permit (SRRP) for the Indiana bat (TE15075A-2) was issued for further research for Phases I, II, and III in 2010 and 2011. One additional Indiana bat carcass was found, in the fall of 2010 (Good et al. 2011). As a result of this discovery, the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Field Office in Bloomington, Indiana, recommended that the FRWF develop a Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP). Consequently, the owners of the FRWF requested that WEST conduct further research of Indiana bat use and methods for reducing bat fatality rates. The results of the research at the FRWF will be used for developing an HCP and applying for an Incidental Take Permit (ITP) from Region 3 of the USFWS. The results presented in this report were collected under the SRPP referenced above.