 In April 2009, project engineers discovered that Indiana bats—an endangered species of bat—live in the area in and surrounding the proposed right-of-way of the Fort Drum Connector (I-781).As a result, several concessions were made, including clearing trees during the winter season while the bats hibernate in caves, purchasing and setting aside land to replace those lands lost during construction, and leaving trees in the of land alongside the highway that would typically be cleared to serve as embankments.The last of the three changes preserved of forest.