Cave Management and White Nose Syndrome

Chuck BittingNatural Resource Program Manager

Buffalo National River

What is White Nose Syndrome?

• White Nose Syndrome (WNS)is a disease caused by infection with the fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans (P.d.).

• This fungus is believed to have been brought into the United States from Europe around 2005.

• The white fungus often appears on the muzzle and other parts of infected bats during hibernation.

Why is WNS a Problem?

• WNS causes unusual behavior in hibernating bats including flying outside in the day and clustering near the entrances of hibernation sites.

• Bats with WNS have been found sick and dying in unprecedented numbers. In some hibernation sites the populations have experienced 90 to 100% declines.

• WNS has killed more than 5.7 million bats in eastern North America since 2006.

Bats known to be impacted by WNS• Big Brown Bat (Eptesicus fuscus)• Little Brown Bat (Myotis lucifugus)• Eastern Small-Footed Bat (Myotis leibii)• Indiana Bat (Myotis sodalis)• Northern Long-Eared Bat (Myotis septentrionalis)• Gray Bat (Myotis grisescens)• Tricolored Bat aka. Eastern Pipistrelle (Perimyotis

subflavus)• All of these bats are present at Buffalo National River.

Underground Bat Roosts at Buffalo National River

• Buffalo National River has over 400 caves and hundreds of other karst features, bluff shelters, and abandoned mines.

• These sites are important for a wide variety of reasons such as providing habitat for wildlife, providing groundwater storage and flow paths. They also contain unique and irreplaceable natural and cultural resources.

Current Cave Management

• To reduce the possibility of human spread of the disease, and to provide a more peaceful roosting experience for our bats, Buffalo National River closed nearly all caves to recreational access in 2009.

• All abandoned mines have been administratively closed for decades because of safety concerns.

Self Guided Recreational Cave Access• The caves at Lost Valley, from the parking lot,

upstream to Eden Falls Cave remain open. • The caves along the Buffalo Point trail system

are open. This includes the Indian Rockhouse, Overlook(ed) cave, Forest Trail Pit, Sinkhole Icebox, Panther Cave, and others.

• Rationale: These caves have few bats, and it is unrealistic to attempt to close them as they are right on the trails, and in a couple of cases are the focus of the trail..

Ranger Guided Recreational Caves

• Back O’ Beyond Cave and Silver Hill Cave are open via Ranger guided trips only.

• Rationale: The Ranger will ensure the equipment is decontaminated. These caves do not have very many bats, and the educational benefits outweigh the risks.

Cave Research

• Cave research continues in the park, but at a much reduced rate from previous years.

• The Cave Research Foundation continues mapping, inventorying, monitoring, and studying caves.

• All researchers must comply with all decontamination protocols, every time.

WNS Actions• Cave closures and signing at caves, trailheads, campgrounds,

etc.• Public speaking engagements to inform groups of the threats

of WNS.• Monitoring of cave bats for signs of WNS in cooperation with

AGFC and USFWS.• Annual bat population surveys with AGFC.• Acoustic bat detection surveys to develop baseline

conditions.• Surveys of fauna in selected caves to develop baseline

population conditions.

WNS and Buffalo National River

As you can see, WNS is a rapidly changing epidemic. Already 5 to 6 million bats have died as a direct result of the disease. Several species are expected to be extirpated, some are at risk of going extinct. These include the Indiana and Northern Long-Eared bats.

What Can You Do?

• Keep cave visits down to the bare minimum to avoid disturbing bats, particularly in the winter.

• Learn more about bats and work to improve their roosting and foraging habitats.

• Provide assistance to researchers studying bats and WNS.

• For more information point your browser to http://www.whitenosesyndrome.org

Thank You