Alternative Text Description for Gray Bat (Endangered) Distribution Map

TABLE OF CONTENTS

MAP OVERVIEW

This map displays the known distribution range of the Gray Bat, an endangered species, across the southeastern United States. The map shows polygonal boundaries representing areas where this species is understood to occur according to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. The shaded areas indicate the geographic extent of Gray Bat habitat within the mapped region, which spans from Georgia and South Carolina through Florida.

GEOGRAPHIC CONTEXT

The map covers portions of the southeastern United States, including the entire state of Florida and portions of Georgia and South Carolina. Major cities labeled on the map include Atlanta, Athens, Greenville, Columbia, Charleston, Wilmington, Jacksonville, Savannah, Valdosta, Gainesville, Orlando, Tampa, St. Petersburg, Lakeland, Palm Bay, Port St. Lucie, West Palm Beach, Cape Coral, Coral Springs, Freeport, and Abaco. The map extends from the Atlantic Ocean on the east to include portions of the Gulf of America on the west. Notable geographic features include Florida's peninsula and coastal areas of Georgia and South Carolina.

KEY INSIGHTS

The Gray Bat's endangered species range appears as distinct polygonal areas primarily concentrated in two regions. The northern portion of the mapped range shows coverage in parts of central Georgia, with labeled cities including Macon, Warner Robins, and extends into the southwestern portion of the state near Albany and Tallahassee. A separate southern concentration appears in south-central Florida, particularly in an area near Lake Okeechobee. The distribution pattern shows that Gray Bat habitat is not continuous across the southeastern region but occurs in specific, separated geographic zones. Large portions of Florida, including most of the peninsula and coastal areas, fall outside the designated Gray Bat range.

VISUAL ELEMENTS

Gray Bat (Endangered) Range

This layer represents the polygonal boundaries of areas where the Gray Bat, an endangered species, is known to occur based on United States Fish and Wildlife Service data.

Gray Bat Range Areas (light gray shaded polygons with diagonal hatching)

Appearance:

Light gray shaded polygons with subtle diagonal line hatching pattern, creating a semi-transparent overlay on the base map.

Distribution:

Two primary geographic concentrations: one in central and southwestern Georgia, and another in south-central Florida near the Lake Okeechobee region.

Notable locations:

The Georgia concentration includes areas around Macon, Warner Robins, Robins, Albany, and Valdosta. The Florida concentration appears as a distinct polygon in the interior south-central portion of the state.

Spatial patterns:

The distribution shows a non-contiguous pattern with significant geographic separation between the northern Georgia occurrence areas and the southern Florida occurrence area. The polygons represent discrete habitat zones rather than a continuous range, indicating the species' specialized habitat requirements and fragmented distribution pattern.

SYMBOL GUIDE

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

This map represents official species boundary data maintained by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service specifically for the State of Florida. The mapped areas reflect the current understanding of where Gray Bat populations occur or have suitable habitat. The polygonal boundaries represent management and conservation planning zones rather than precise observations of individual bat locations. Areas outside the shaded polygons do not necessarily indicate the complete absence of the species but rather fall outside the officially designated range boundaries maintained by the federal wildlife management agency.

DATA CONTEXT

Data Source:

United States Fish and Wildlife Service species boundary data for the State of Florida. The dataset contains polygonal boundaries for species as understood by the agency for conservation and management purposes. Data source layer name: CR_USFWS_POLY_JUL25.

Definition Query:

The map displays only records where COMNAME equals 'GRAY BAT', filtering the source dataset to show this specific endangered species.

Scale Information:

The map shows a regional scale covering multiple states in the southeastern United States, appropriate for understanding the overall geographic distribution of the species across its known range.

Coordinate System:

NAD_1983_HARN_Florida_GDL_Albers (WKID 3087).

Time Period of Content:

The data source indicates a July 2025 reference date (JUL25) in the layer name, suggesting this represents the most current species boundary information as of that time.

Limitations:

The polygonal boundaries represent generalized species range areas and may not reflect precise population locations or habitat suitability at finer scales. The data is specific to United States Fish and Wildlife Service understanding and may not include all potential occurrence areas or recent population changes. The map focuses on Florida state data, though portions of adjacent states are shown for geographic context.

Map Coverage:

The map extent includes the complete state of Florida and portions of Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina, extending from the Atlantic coast westward to include the Florida Panhandle region and Gulf of America coastline. The northern boundary extends approximately to the Columbia, South Carolina area, while the southern extent includes the southern tip of Florida and portions of the Bahamas.

The alternative text description of this map was AI-generated and may contain inaccuracies.