Bat Survey & Ecological Consulting Services
Volant EcoServices is a woman-owned environmental consulting firm serving clients across the eastern United States, including Ohio, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, West Virginia, Indiana, and beyond. We partner with clients to deliver expert environmental consulting that supports project goals, regulatory compliance, and responsible land management. Volant offers a focused range of services—including bat surveys, environmental assessments, and forest inventories—designed to meet agency requirements and move projects forward. Our team brings decades of field experience and scientific training to every project, helping clients navigate environmental regulations while advancing practical, conservation-minded outcomes.
Volant EcoServices conducts bat surveys for state and federally listed bat species including the Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis), northern long-eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis), and tricolored bat (Perimyotis subflavus) across Ohio, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, West Virginia, Indiana, and the broader eastern United States. Our surveys include presence/probable absence mist-netting, acoustic monitoring, and habitat assessments conducted in accordance with current USFWS bat survey guidelines and ESA Section 7 consultation requirements.
Volant conducts potential bat hibernaculum surveys to evaluate caves, mines, rock features, infrastructure, and other underground or subsurface structures that may serve as winter habitat for listed bat species. Surveys follow the most current U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service range-wide guidelines and are designed to support regulatory compliance and informed project planning.
Our biologists assess habitat suitability through field inspections, documentation of bat sign, and measurement of environmental conditions that influence hibernation. When appropriate, surveys are coordinated with resource agencies and conducted during the fall/winter/spring seasons to minimize disturbance and ensure defensible results.
These evaluations help determine whether sensitive overwintering habitat occurs near a project and whether consultation, avoidance measures, or mitigation may be required. By integrating hibernaculum assessments with active-season surveys, Volant provides a complete, seasonally informed understanding of bat use to help clients move forward responsibly and efficiently.
Bridges and culverts are recognized roosting habitat for federally listed bat species including the Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis), northern long-eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis), and tricolored bat (Perimyotis subflavus). Volant EcoServices conducts USFWS-compliant bridge and culvert bat surveys for transportation agencies, DOT contractors, utilities, and private developers — including suitability assessments, emergence surveys, acoustic monitoring, and harp trapping — in support of ESA Section 7 consultation and Programmatic Biological Opinion compliance across the eastern United States.
Accurate species identification is the foundation of defensible bat survey results. Volant EcoServices provides professional acoustic data vetting services, manually reviewing ultrasonic bat call recordings using USFWS-approved software and the expertise of federally permitted biologists. Unlike automated identification alone, our manual vetting process ensures that detections of Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis), northern long-eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis), tricolored bat (Perimyotis subflavus), and other species are verified to the highest standard of scientific rigor.
Our biologists have completed multiple acoustic identification training workshops and maintain current knowledge of bat call libraries and detection best practices. We vet data collected from a variety of detector platforms and provide clear, agency-ready documentation suitable for ESA Section 7 consultation, NEPA review, and state-level permitting.
Whether you need a second opinion on existing acoustic data or full vetting support for an ongoing survey program, Volant delivers reliable results that hold up to regulatory scrutiny.
Biodiversity surveys are essential for understanding the presence and distribution of plant and animal species within a given area. Our biosurveys document species richness, identify sensitive or protected species, and assess overall ecosystem health.
Using standardized methodologies, we conduct surveys for a wide range of taxa, including mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles, and invertebrates. Our detailed reports provide valuable insights for regulatory compliance, conservation planning, habitat management, and research initiatives, helping to protect and preserve natural resources.
Volant EcoServices supports clients in meeting regulatory requirements for federally and state-listed species through project-specific solutions. Our team conducts presence/probable absence surveys, species inventories, and habitat assessments for bats, birds, amphibians, reptiles, and other sensitive taxa.
We assist with formal and informal Section 7 consultations and prepare Biological Assessments, mitigation plans, and agency coordination materials to help move projects forward. With a deep understanding of ESA regulations and state-level permitting processes, Volant delivers reliable, defensible data that aligns with conservation goals while supporting practical project timelines and compliance needs.
Volant helps clients navigate complex environmental regulations through clear, science-based assessments and permitting support. Our team prepares Environmental Assessments (EAs), Environmental Impact Statements (EISs), and site characterization surveys in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
We assist with formal and informal Section 7 consultations, public involvement processes, and the development of mitigation and conservation plans for bats, birds, and other sensitive species.
Whether supporting land development, infrastructure, or conservation projects, we provide the documentation, guidance, and ecological expertise needed to move projects forward while meeting regulatory requirements and promoting responsible resource management.
Healthy forests are vital for biodiversity, carbon sequestration, and ecosystem stability. Our forest inventory services provide comprehensive data on tree species composition, stand structure, and forest health.
We conduct field-based measurements to assess tree density, age distribution, and habitat value, providing critical information for forest management, conservation planning, and sustainable land-use decisions. Whether for private landowners, government agencies, or conservation organizations, our forest inventories support informed decision-making to balance ecological and economic objectives.
Wetlands and streams are among the most regulated natural features affecting development and infrastructure projects. Volant EcoServices conducts wetland and stream delineations, jurisdictional determinations, and Section 404 permitting support in accordance with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 1987 Wetland Delineation Manual and applicable regional supplements. We assist clients with Nationwide Permit pre-construction notifications, Individual Permit applications, Section 401 water quality certification coordination, and compensatory mitigation planning across Ohio, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, West Virginia, Indiana, and the eastern United States.
A Biological Assessment is the foundational document for ESA Section 7 consultation — and its quality directly determines how efficiently USFWS can review and act on your project. Volant EcoServices prepares Biological Assessments for projects affecting federally listed bat species including the Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis), northern long-eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis), and tricolored bat (Perimyotis subflavus), as well as other listed mammals, birds, reptiles, and plants across the eastern United States. Our federally permitted biologists conduct all required field surveys and prepare the effects analysis and supporting documentation needed to initiate and complete Section 7 consultation with USFWS Field Offices.
Environmental permits are only the beginning. Volant EcoServices provides hands-on compliance support to help clients implement permit conditions correctly and stay compliant throughout project execution. We assist with seasonal work windows and tree clearing restrictions for federally listed bat species including the Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis), northern long-eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis), and tricolored bat (Perimyotis subflavus), construction-phase biological monitoring, post-construction reporting, and ongoing agency coordination under the Endangered Species Act, NEPA, and Clean Water Act. Our compliance support ensures that project teams understand their regulatory obligations in the field — and have the documentation to prove they met them.
