WNS & Bats Tennessee Bat Working Group Meeting Fall Creek Falls State Resort Park November 21, 2013

OVERVIEW • WNS • Improving Detection of Indiana Bats • Gray Bats • Northern Long-eared Bat Listing • Little Brown & Tricolored Bats • Wind Energy • Future Research

WNS- Observations from the Southeast

• Earliest infected sites

in NC and TN have had declines similar to other states in the NE and Appalachian Mountains (~95% winter).

• NC also reporting summer capture declines

WNS Observations (Cont.) • Large scale movements of gray bats from hibernaculum to

hibernaculum in TN but no change in overall population (similar to Indiana bats in IN).

• No significant change in Indiana bat populations thus far. • Populations of NLEBs missing from hibernaculum in late

winter of 2013. • Hanging dead tricolored bats in several caves in KY, NC, TN,

GA, and AL in late winter of 2013. • VBEB populations stable to increasing. • OBEB populations stable but just discovered fungus in a single

cave used as summer roost in AR.

WNS Research • Significant momentum behind development of multiple Bio-

Control Options for Pd control. • Obvious concerns with use of these things in caves but could

begin to see testing in some mines, bunkers, or other man-made hibernaculum.

• Looking forward to see progress during second year for TNC artificial hibernaculum

• Depending on results could see as an option for testing bio-control agents

• Second year of Gray Bat Arousal Study (Britzke) • Building on results from 2012-2013 potentially resulting in

comparison of arousal patterns for WNS affected gray bats in 2014.

Indiana Bat Population Trends 8/26/2013

166,107 186,588

196,197 194,475 191,446 195,554 197,707

238,739 246,673

285,729

320,342

281,977

308,324 300,675

16,384 19,658 23,672 22,295 30,569

32,468

17,584

30,344 33,645 42,710 53,763

33,855

16,124

18,273

0

50,000

100,000

150,000

200,000

250,000

300,000

350,000

2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013

Popu

latio

n Si

ze

Year

Ozark-Central (AR, IL, MO & OK)

Midwest (AL, IN, KY, MI, OH, TN & SW.VA)

Andy King, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bloomington, Indiana. Revised 8-26-

Andy King, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bloomington, Indiana. Revised

Indiana Bat Population Estimates by Recovery Unit from 2001 - 2013

2013 Indiana Bat Estimate 8/26/2013

IBat Recovery Unit State 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013

% Change from 2013

% of 2013 Total

Ozark-Central

Illinois 55,090 53,823 53,342 55,956 57,074 2.0% 10.7%

Missouri* 139,038 138,831 136,624 138,379 139,772 1.0% 26.2%

Arkansas 2,067 1,821 1,480 1,206 856 -29.0% 0.2%

Oklahoma 2 0 0 13 5 0.0% 0.0%

Total 196,197 194,475 191,446 195,554 197,707 1.1% 37.0%

Midwest

Indiana 206,610 238,068 213,244 225,477 226,365 0.4% 42.4%

Kentucky 65,611 71,250 57,325 70,598 62,233 -11.8% 11.6%

Ohio 9,769 7,629 9,261 9,870 9,259 -6.2% 1.7%

Tennessee 3,221 2,929 1,657 1,791 2,337 30.5% 0.4%

Alabama 296 258 253 261 247 -5.4% 0.0%

SW Virginia 202 188 217 307 214 -30.3% 0.0%

Michigan 20 20 20 20 20 0.0% 0.0%

Total 285,729 320,342 281,977 308,324 300,675 -2.5% 56.3%

Appalachian

West Virginia 13,417 14,745 17,965 20,296 3,845 -81.1% 0.7%

E. Tennessee 8,853 5,977 11,058 11,096 13,200 19.0% 2.5%

Pennsylvania 835 1,038 1,031 519 120 -76.9% 0.0%

Virginia 567 535 514 556 418 -24.8% 0.1%

North Carolina 0 0 1 1 1 0.0% 0.0%

Total 23,672 22,295 30,569 32,468 17,584 -45.8% 3.3%

Northeast

New York 41,745 52,779 33,172 15,654 17,772 13.5% 3.3%

New Jersey 652 659 619 409 448 9.5% 0.1%

Vermont 313 325 64 61 53 -13.1% 0.0%

Total 42,710 53,763 33,855 16,124 18,273 13.3% 3.4%

Rangewide Total: 548,308 590,875 537,847 552,470 534,239 -3.3% 100.0%

2-yr. Net Change: 42,567 -53,028 14,623 -18,231

2-yr. % Change: 7.8% -9.0% 2.7% -3.3%

Gray Bats • Populations stable to increasing • Attended recovery meeting in MO in fall of 2012

• De-listing of gray bats put on hold once WNS arrived in U.S. • Decision made at meeting to make changes to population

monitoring approach • Shift from focus on summer colonies to winter monitoring of major

hibernaculum (KY, TN, AL, and AR in the SE) • Fern Cave in AL is largest hib within the species range but comes with

its own challenges • Highly technical cave to access • Goal is to use existing technology (T.I.R.) to estimate population without

entry

Improving Detection of Indiana Bats

• Summer Survey Guidance

• 2013 Implementation of revised protocols • Peer review of level of effort white paper completed and approval

received from Service management (ARDs) • 2014 Planning: software testing & next steps • Northern long-eared Bat recommendations

24 net nights 4 net nights

2013 LOE

6 detector nights

White Paper – Peer Review Process

• Reviewer Expertise: Any one or combination of the following: development of bat survey methodologies, occupancy modeling, disease modeling.

• Selection of Peer Reviewer: Peer reviewers will be selected based on their expertise with the subject matter and as described in the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Peer Review Guidelines, including not having been involved in development of the methodologies to develop a minimum level of effort to survey for Indiana bats in the summer, not previously provided comments on Indiana bat summer survey guidance, and not in a position to financially benefit from the review.

White Paper – Peer Review Process • Sent requests for peer review to 10 individuals • Received positive responses (interest) from 5 individuals

• Pat Zollner, Purdue • Matthew Clement, USGS Patuxent • James Nichols, USGS Patuxent • Laura Ellison, USGS, Fort Collins Science Center • Steve Sheriff, SLS Ventures

White Paper – Methods • Use of detection probabilities (how likely are you to detect a

species when present) and occupancy estimates (how likely is a species to be present at any given moment at a given location) to develop LOE

• Reviewed literature for existing information – very limited • Requested help in 2012 for field studies to develop parameters

or for survey reports to estimate them • NY, KY, MO, WV, OH, IN information • Estimated detection probabilities and occupancy rates • Calculated level of effort

Acoustic ID Software Testing

• USGS/USFWS development of standardized 3rd party test (Dr. Mark Ford-lead) • 3 formal requests to acoustic experts (May 26th, June

24th, & September 16th) • Very little response to our requests (only 2 individuals

have provided calls and 3 others have “promised to” • FOIA concerns (addressed w/ SOL assistance) • Metadata request (addressed w/ clarification) • Requested during summer field season (addressed w/

extensions)

Acoustic ID Software Testing • Because of delays and furlough, December is earliest

development of test call library can be finalized. • Continue developing test library with those call files

submitted & supplement with USGS/USFWS call files. • Second option is to develop test call libraries from “real

world sampling” files. • Advantage of being easier to develop & could implement

in 2014 • Also responsive to public comments

Acoustic ID Software Testing

• Team recommendation: • Use of 2013 analysis process (i.e., a minimum of two

programs) will continue until the test call library(ies) are completed and at least one program successfully passes USGS/USFWS testing.

Acoustic Software Programs • Total of 4 programs anticipated to be ready for testing this

winter. • Echoclass • BCID • Kaleidoscope • Sonobat

• All 4 have indicated they will be ready for testing.

Next Steps for 2014 Guidance • ARD Decision on Team recommendations • Final Team edits (November) • Internal USFWS (ES & Refuges) review (Nov/Dec) • RD briefings (December) • Outreach

• Post on Indiana bat website (January) • 2014 guidance • Final white paper

• Dear Interested party letter from RDs (January) • Early release of final documents to State/Fed Partners (Jan) • Partner conference calls (Jan/Feb) • Press Release of final documents (early February) • Presentations at Regional Bat Working Group Meetings (Spring)

Northern Long-Eared Bat • Indiana Bat Survey Guidance Team Recommendations for NLEB:

• 2014 • Use Indiana bat summer protocols based on initial data

• 2015 and beyond • Gather additional data (acoustic/netting) • Request and analyze survey reports • Estimate detection/occupancy rates

• Develop level of effort and determine if NLEB Survey Guidance Team is needed based on results (i.e., are there significant differences in results from Indiana bat).

• All of this will be in coordination with NLEB Recovery and Consultation Guidance Team

http://www.fws.gov/midwest/Endangered/mammals/inba/inbasummersurveyguidance.html

Improving Detection of Indiana Bats

• Acoustic Lure Study

• Playback of bat vocalizations to attract bats to mist-nets and increase capture success

• IBCF funded study within known maternity colony in KY • Wrapped up second year of study this summer • Positive results thus far with increased capture of not only

Indiana bats but all species of bats compared to previous capture rates within same colony

Improving Detection of Indiana Bats

• Wildlife Detection Dogs • One dog trained to

detect Indiana bat guano • KYFO working with

handler this past summer to evaluate dogs abilities and determine applicability in context of consultation and recovery workload

• Roost trees and hibernacula

Wildlife Detection Dogs (Cont.) • Discussions ongoing with NV researcher who was lead on

developing similar tools for surveys of desert tortoise • Proposal being considered to develop standards for the use of

WDDs on federally listed species; test VOCs to determine if there are differences between bat species, sex, age

• Policy Decision for Service to move forward • How does the Service want to use WDDs moving forward?

• Recovery and consultation tool? • General Research tool?

NLEB Proposed Listing • as endangered due to WNS • FR Notice published October 2, 2013 • Public comment period closes December 2, 2013 (extension?) • All SE states have populations of NLEB

• KY & TN have highest numbers • Service Team currently working on Conference/ Consultation and

Conservation Guidance • Interim Conference Guidance (Dec 2013) • Consultation & Conservation Guidance (Oct 2014)

• Section 10 Permits • Recommendations for past, present, and future projects

Preparing for MYSE Listing • Conversations on-going with several FO’s within the species

range in the SE Planning (all informed by interim Service Guidance):

• Work with State partners to prepare summer and winter occurrence maps with buffers around hib’s and colonies indicating known habitat

• Use comparison of life history traits between MYSE & MYSO and map to inform development of AMMs

• Jeopardy/non-jeopardy rationale • P/A survey guidance for winter and summer • Coal Mining PEP Guidance

Little Brown & Tricolored Bats • Little Brown Bat:

• R3 has been working on status assessment since early 2011 • Not petitioned for listing at this time • Expect warranted/not warranted decision by end of FY2014

• Tricolored Bat (Eastern Pipistrelle): • R5 just began status assessment for this species • Not petitioned for listing at this time • No timeline available for decision

• Both of these species have seen similar declines as northern

long-eared bats from WNS, especially in the Northeast

Wind • Current status in Southeast:

• Numerous inquiries from developers in 2012 • Only a few projects initially discussed still on the table (AL & NC) • Litigation in NE and MW & new bat listing rumors have slowed

momentum

• Concerns: • Summer, Winter & Migration

• Gray bats • Indiana bats • NLEB, LBB, tricolored bats..

Future Research • Bats are one of the most poorly understood migratory species • Also, day to day movements within summer habitat are not well

known • Options for tracking:

• Radio tracking • Most commonly used method of tracking bats today • Costly due to need for large teams and aircraft(s) • Best option available

• Geolocating • Too heavy for eastern Myotids • Must recover transmitter to get data • Location errors as high as 180 km

• Satellite transmitters • 5 g satellite transmitters have been successfully tested but still (need to

be < 1 g for most eastern insectivorous bat species) • all of the issues discussed today could be informed significantly by

investing in the development of this technology.