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Approximately 80% of Fort Knox is covered in forests – which not only helps create an ideal training ground, but also is critical habitat for numerous plant and animal species, including some that are endangered.
As part of its holistic approach to ecosystem management, the natural resources team at Fort Knox has undertaken efforts aimed directly at protecting and preserving forest health, which in turn has created a broader impact and improved habitats.
“Our team has worked incredibly hard to implement plans and projects to produce results,” said Michael Brandenburg, Fort Knox Natural Resources Branch chief. “This work has resulted in improved wildlife habitat, better summer habitat for endangered bats, improved water quality, and enhanced military training opportunities.”
In the last two years, Fort Knox crews completed 1,060 acres of forest stand improvement and 1,166 acres of forest invasive species control, providing improved habitat for the species that live in the area.
The team also managed invasive species on 356 acres and improved the land to promote both pollinator and quail species success. The team also managed 100 acres of cool season and 26 acres of warm season wildlife plots, providing more year-round habitat.
Much of this work centers on promoting the Oak-Hickory forest type that is naturally occurring in the area and removing and impeding the expansion of invasive tree and plant species, including tree of heaven, Princess tree, Callery Pear, bush honeysuckle, autumn olive, multiflora rose and Japanese stilt grass.
One of the more innovative additions to the post were the installation of 12 bat roost structures that blend into the natural environment but provide longer lasting habitat for bats. Compared to natural roosts which exhibit suitable roosting habitat for approximately one to five years, the artificial roost structures useful lifespan is much longer.
Recently, population studies of Indiana bats have been conducted by banding hundreds of individuals each year resulting in approximately 3,000 bats in each of two Indiana bat colonies on base. Additionally, 595 bats have been documented emerging from a single BrandenBark® roost structure housing Indiana bats at Fort Knox. These are by far the largest Indiana bat colonies in the range of the species.
Fort Knox is part of a larger and ongoing effort to protect bats. Since 2005, the Fort Knox NR Program, in cooperation with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Kentucky Ecological Field Office and consulting firm partners, has conducted survey and monitoring efforts for bats on the installation.
Brandenburg said there have been 3,545 captures of 10 species of bats at Fort Knox over 15 years. During several years, northern long-eared bats were targeted for study and one year, tricolored bats were radio-tracked. Most of the focus has been on the Indiana bat, including capture on the landscape; capture at roosts; and documenting land use using telemetry and acoustic technology.
The team has also supported creation and preservation of recreational opportunities for the Fort Knox community. Some of the more notable efforts have included improvements to fishing habitat by installing more than 75 fish habitat structures, often converting waste materials, and constructing habitat appropriate structures for fish. The team also stocked Otter Creek on Fort Knox with 3,000 pounds of rainbow trout and managed other lakes with 10,000 pounds of catfish.
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