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Soil Investigations for Data Collection in the Delta Initial Study/Proposed Mitigated Negative Declaration 91 Short migrations occur between summer and winter ranges, and migrants may be found outside the normal range. Roosting habitat includes forests and woodlands from sea level up through mixed conifer forests. Western red bat roost primarily in trees (less often in shrubs), typically in edge habitats adjacent to streams, fields, or urban areas. The species prefers roost sites that are protected from above, open below, and located above dark ground-cover. They form nursery colonies, and family groups are known to roost together. Foraging habitat includes grasslands, shrublands, open woodlands and forests, and croplands. Mating occurs in August and September, with delayed fertilization until the following spring, and young born from late May through early July (CDFW 1990i). Western red bat has a moderate potential to occur within the Study Area due to the presence of suitable habitat and reported occurrences within two and five miles of the Study Area. Implementation of Mitigation Measures MM AES-1, MM AES-2, MM BIO-1 and MM BIO-15 would reduce potential impacts to western red bat to: Less than Significant with Mitigation Incorporated. MM BIO-15: Special-Status Bats To minimize and avoid the potential impacts to special-status bats that may occur within the project area, the following general measures will be implemented: a. Pre-activity roosting special-status bat surveys and an evaluation of roosting habitat suitability for bats will be conducted by a qualified biologist familiar with the species that could potentially occur within the Impact Area. The qualified biologist should, at a minimum have experience conducting roosting bat surveys and be able to identify the presence of guano and urine stains. b. Any identified roosts of special-status bats will be avoided, and a buffer of up to 100 feet will be established based on-site conditions and at the discretion of the biologist, to ensure that the roosting bats are not disturbed. If a nursery colony is identified, additional measures may be required including a larger buffer, to ensure no disturbance. Such additional measures will be determined and monitored by a qualified biologist. Hoary Bat (Lasiurus cinereus) Hoary bat is identified by the Western Bat Working Group (WBWG) as Moderate priority. It is a large bat that has a coat of dense, dark brown pelage with a frosted appearance. This species is the most widespread North American bat and may be found nearly everywhere in California from sea level to 13,200 feet, although its distribution is patchy in southeastern deserts. It is a common, solitary species that winters along the coast and in southern California, breeds inland