Emergency Bloomington Tree Removal at Monroe County Courthouse
(A reminder for counties, engineers, utilities, and contractors)
If you have roadway projects, drainage improvements, utility work, site development, or storm-mitigation work planned for spring or summer, now is the time to schedule your tree clearing. Indiana follows strict federal guidelines protecting endangered bat species, and these guidelines directly affect when trees can be removed.
Most project delays we see each year have one thing in common:
Tree clearing was scheduled too close to the April 1 bat restriction date.
Here’s what every project manager should know.
🕒 Indiana’s Seasonal Tree Clearing Restrictions
From April 1 through September 30, tree removal is restricted on projects that involve:
- Federal or state funding (INDOT, FEMA, USDA, NRCS)
- County or municipal road work
- Drainage and watershed improvements
- Utility and right-of-way projects
- Commercial or subdivision development
- Any work requiring federal permits (e.g., USACE 404 permits)
This window is in place to protect maternity roosting habitat for the endangered Indiana bat and Northern long-eared bat.
What this means for you:
If trees are not removed before April 1, your entire project schedule may shift 6+ months.
🚧 There Is NO Acreage Threshold
A common misconception is that bat rules only apply on large tracts of land. In reality:
- There is no minimum acreage
- There is no minimum number of trees
If your project requires tree removal and is tied to federal/state dollars or permits, the restriction applies — even for small roadside removals, intersection improvements, and utility corridors.
⚠️ What Causes Project Delays?
Every year, contractors run into the same issue:
“We’re ready to start construction… but clearing missed the bat window.”
This leads to:
- Delayed bid packages
- Forced schedule shifts
- Higher contractor pricing due to compressed timelines
- Risk of losing grant or federal funding windows
- Emergency bat surveys costing tens of thousands of dollars
Most of these delays are 100% avoidable with early planning.
🔧 How Counties & Contractors Can Stay Ahead
Here are the steps smart agencies and developers are taking right now:
-
Identify all tree-related work early
If a project requires even one tree removal in the right-of-way or construction zone, it needs to be addressed before April 1.
- Get tree-clearing on the calendar by winter
The ideal clearing window is October 1 – March 31.
Winter is when equipment, crews, and weather conditions are most favorable.
- Communicate early with your clearing contractor
Bluestone Tree increasingly books winter clearing months out.
A simple call now prevents a crunch later.
- Add a “bat window” reminder to engineering and bid documents
Your engineering partners should design around these dates to avoid permitting and timeline issues.
🌲 How Bluestone Tree Helps Keep You on Schedule
Bluestone Tree works with:
- County & city highway departments
- Engineering firms and site developers
- Utilities and stormwater departments
- General contractors and prime contractors
- Emergency management agencies
We offer:
- Large-scale clearing & ROW removal
- Mechanized cuts (Sennebogen 718, grapple-saw trucks)
- Storm debris removal
- Horizontal grinding & recycling
Our winter schedule books fast — and missing the bat window can stop progress until October.
📝 Final Takeaway
If you have 2025 or 2026 projects that require tree clearing, the time to schedule is now.
Waiting until March is almost guaranteed to create delays.
Don’t let the bat window hold your project hostage.
Bluestone Tree can help you clear early, stay compliant, and protect your schedule
Matt Baldwin
ISA Certified Arborist IN-3202A
ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualified
OISC Certified Applicator F238042
Bluestone Tree
