On April 1, 2015, the US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) announced that the northern long-eared bat will be listed as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).  Listing the species with a designation as threatened instead of endangered, as originally proposed, provides official protection of this species, while reducing the regulatory burden, especially to those in the forestry and transportation industries.  Under the ESA, a threatened status allows for implementation of a rule, known as the 4(d) rule, which gives certain projects automatic clearance to proceed.