Bats 101

Colorado Bats& WNS

Tina JacksonSpecies Conservation CoordinatorTerrestrial SectionColorado Parks and Wildlife6060 BroadwayDenver, CO 80216303-291-7437Colorado Bats18 confirmed species2 FamiliesVespertilionidae - Common batsMolossidae - Free-tailed batsMany common in Front Range and mountainsLack of basic natural history information for many species

2WNS monitoring:Caves throughout the stateMines throughout the state, both new and previously gatedReported bat mortalitiesSite checks to assess site/gate status and screen for mortalitiesEngagement of the caving communityData loggers to collect site microclimate dataDetector set up over winter to detect abnormal activityAssessment of bat calls from detectors

CPW Bat MonitoringDisease causing high numbers of bat mortalities 6 million bats killedFirst observed in New York in 2007, and is spreading westwardNow confirmed in 23 states and 5 provinces

White Nose Syndromehttp://www.whitenosesyndrome.org/about/where-is-it-now

You Are HereColorado Bats and WNSWNS has not been found in Colorado to date3 species native to Colorado have been infected with WNS in the East Little Brown BatBig Brown BatTri-colored BatOther Myotis species may be vulnerable, which would include another 6 Colorado species13 bat species rely in Colorado on cave/mine habitats for hibernationWNS Response PlanPurpose: to describe the Colorado Division of Wildlifes (Division) conservation and disease management actions to minimize the spread of white-nose syndrome (WNS) to bats in Colorado. Collaborate with partners including federal agencies, tribal authorities, Colorado recreational caving organizations, private landowners, and the general public to manage the threat that WNS poses to native bat populations in Colorado.Coordination and OutreachMonitoring and Surveillance

Coordination and OutreachInternal Coordination between Terrestrial Section and Wildlife Health ProgramScientific Collection PermitsBat Rehabilitation PermitsServe as clearing house for WNS reports and samplesDevelop Education and Outreach materialsWNS Working GroupMonitoring and SurveillanceDevelop Surveillance and Monitoring PlanIdentify Priority Sites for monitoring3 types of survey effortHigh Priority SitesCoordinated (other agencies and AML work)Public ReportingCoordinate with other agencies on surveillanceLand Management AgenciesColorado Department of Public Health and EnvironmentMunicipal Animal ControlPriority SitesDistance to Oklahoma SiteBat-to-bat transmission risk (if known)Significance of Cave/Mine to native bats

Over 300 sites identified for 20116WNS Response PlanCoordination and OutreachInternal Coordination between Terrestrial Section and Wildlife Health ProgramScientific Collection PermitsBat Rehabilitation PermitsServe as clearing house for WNS reports and samplesDevelop Education and Outreach materialsWNS Working Group

WNS Response PlanMonitoring and SurveillanceDevelop Surveillance and Monitoring PlanIdentify Priority Sites for monitoring3 types of survey effortHigh Priority SitesCoordinated (other agencies and AML work)Public ReportingCoordinate with other agencies on surveillanceLand Management AgenciesColorado Department of Public Health and EnvironmentMunicipal Animal ControlWNS Response PlanPriority SitesDistance to Oklahoma SiteBat-to-bat transmission risk (if known)Significance of Cave/Mine to native bats

Over 300 sites identified for 2011

Surveillance and Monitoring2 new Townsends Big-eared Bat hibernacula locatedAcoustic detectors deployed at ~30 sitesData processing still on-going>3,500 bat calls identified Microclimate monitoringInitial resultsOver 100 sites received external surveys20+ dead bats received from public reports

No signs of WNS during any of this work

So now whatWinter Surveillance and Monitoring PlansContinue Acoustic and Microclimate MonitoringUpdate PlanUpdate WebsiteIncrease Public Outreach and EducationWait