New WNS Map Sets Precedent

[PYoungbaer]

All,

The latest version of the ubiquitous WNS map breaks new ground, which I believe warrants discussion. With the report of a new "likely" site in Delaware, that site marks the first time a summer roost has been portrayed on the map. Previously, all sites were winter hibernacula.

What might this mean for the future? Will summer maternity colonies in barns, churches, warehouses, attics, bat houses, etc. be included? What does that mean for visitation moratoria or cleaning and disinfecting protocols? What other legal or management ramifications might there be?

Should the map be limited to hibernacula? Should it include any and all WNS sites? Should it have some other specific criteria?

We would appreciate all comments and suggestions, as I expect this will be a hot topic at the upcoming May 25-27 WNS Science and Management Strategy Conference in Pittsburgh. Thank you.

[cavergirl]

The latest version of the ubiquitous WNS map breaks new ground, which I believe warrants discussion. With the report of a new "likely" site in Delaware, that site marks the first time a summer roost has been portrayed on the map. Previously, all sites were winter hibernacula.

Are you sure all previous sites were hibernacula? what about those 2 counties in eastern Massachusetts that turned up WNS in aquaducts? http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/news/ ... e-out-bats

and I'm not sure about that Dunbar cave TN bat. it was reportedly a transient bat. It was warm enough down here in March to be considered at least spring emergent.

[PYoungbaer]

The Mass. aqueduct and Dunbar Cave are both hibernacula. The aqueduct is apparently some 20 miles long. We had some discussion (Tom Kunz, Brian Pease) at the ICS in Texas about doing a survey this past winter, but it didn't materialize - maybe next year. Yes the Dunbar bat was reportedly a transient, but the site is a hibernaculum.

[tncaver]

Bats are spreading the ****. No matter what we do it's gonna happen.

[wyandottecaver]

Peter,

is this a summer roost or a maternity colony? How was WNS classified, by seeing active fungus, histology of a dead bat, or soil sample?

1) GD is *supposedly* inactive above average summertime temps (which is counter-intuitive to some degree but I digress). Can GD persist in a surface site without bat hosts? Maternity colonies in particular are often higher than ambient temps.

2) There are already USFWS precedents for excluding certain surface activities near maternity sites. Often these restrictions persist through time (5 years or longer) even though any individual site may not be used ever again

3) If we establish that GD can in fact spread and persist (even slowly) in a summer surface environment then the implications are staggering for both non cave dwelling bats and for the west and southeast.

4) if #3 is true, then the number of at risk caves skyrockets....It also means that controlling WNS by controlling cave access is a fools errand. Control the VECTOR i.e. bats.

I think it is important to differentiate between surface and subsurface sites, but if we find WNS in a cave in july does that really make the cave different than finding it in december? I would expect to see just as much regulation of barns and attics as we have seen of Commercial Caves.....A lot more talk and a lot less action.

And TN is right. ALL of this is moot. There has, is, and apparently remains no will to control the vector. In that situation, the result of a virulent contagious disease is as certain as putting fire to gasoline. The USFWS is just trying to get some buck from the bang while not getting their hair singed.

[John Chenger]

ummmm...a number of counties in PA and I suspect some other states are already coded "wns present" because of early summer captures of bats with obvious wing scarring damage. Anyone who has been around bats for a short length of time immediately can tell something is wrong with the wns bats wings, etc. Usually these are seen in counties adjoining major hibernacula only in spring/early summer, because without anti-fungal treatment the fungus just eats bats alive until they are grounded, and then they are a meal for something else.

The summer bat score card:
http://www.fws.gov/northeast/PDF/Reicha ... 0wings.pdf

Note: a wing score of 0 or 1 could just be any normal wear and tear and not much to get excited about. A score of 2 or higher is most definitely WNS infested bat the likes of which has never been seen before all this dusted up.

[tncaver]

John,
Thank you for posting the link showing WNS wing damage. It was very informative. Your information is greatly appreciated.

[PYoungbaer]

Jonathan Reichard's wing damage index has been published and posted on several websites, including the NSS's, since the summer of 2008. This was the first field diagnostic tool available to see if we might be able to document WNS outside the hibernacula. Reichard and Tom Kunz did a study published a year later, in 2009, which is also posted:
http://www.caves.org/WNS/WNS%20Reichard%20&%20Kunz_Wing%20Damage_AC_09%5B1%5D.pdf

However, up until now, I'm not aware this field work had been used to identify sites on the map. This is currently the subject of a very active behind the scenes on line discussion, and the understanding of USFWS, as well (as stated in an e-mail yesterday), is that the map had previously identified only hibernacula.

Indeed, Cal Butchkowski, the map-maker, admitted in several messages to various state and federal officials and me yesterday that he was wrestling with the issue, as well. How should a day rooster found with G.d. in a hibernaculum be listed? Positive now, with previous winter likely? What about bats caught in mist nets? Part of the debate/confusion is the new multi-nuanced classification system from the USGS:
http://www.nwhc.usgs.gov/disease_information/white-nose_syndrome/wns_definitions.jsp

Note that the classifications cover hibernacula only - no discussion of summer roost, maternity colony, or other sites.

Delaware's finding is also confusing, as USGS considers PCR positive for G.d without positive Histopathology as "likely" at this point in time, which is what you see on the updated map. Yet Delaware's press release states that WNS is "confirmed" as posted here:

NEWS OF THE DELAWARE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL
April 30, 2010
Vol. 39, No. 137
For more information contact Holly Niederriter, Division of Fish & Wildlife, 302-735-8651 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              302-735-8651      end_of_the_skype_highlighting, 302-739-9912 or Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902.

Fungus associated with White-nose Syndrome detected in Delaware bats
No threat posed to humans, pets, livestock or property;

Division of Fish and Wildlife continues to monitor Delaware bats for impacts from WNS

Delaware environmental officials have confirmed the fungus associated with White-nose Syndrome (WNS) on bats in two locations in New Castle County. The disease is characterized by a white fungus on the noses, wings, tails and ears of bats. The fungus thrives in cold temperatures and is seen on bats in caves and mines in the northeast, Canada and, more recently, in Tennessee and Missouri.

Delaware does not have known hibernation sites suitable for the fungus to grow; therefore WNS has not been detected here in winter. Bats typically groom the fungus off when they leave their hibernation sites at the end of the winter, making it more difficult to detect in spring and summer. However, it may still be present and affect bats after they return to their maternity colony sites, which can be many miles from their winter homes.

The bats tested - new arrivals to their summer roost sites in Delaware - had wing and ear scarring consistent with WNS and tissue samples were sent to the National Wildlife Research Center for testing. Both samples came back positive for the fungus Geomyces destructans. These were the first bats examined and officials expect it to be common and widespread.

WNS poses no health threat to humans but has caused the death of over a million bats and has been detected from Canada to Tennessee to Missouri. Many researchers and cave visitors have been in contact with affected bats and caves and no humans have become ill from this disease. Although there will be no direct impact to human, pet or livestock health, the anticipated loss of large numbers of bats could have indirect impacts on humans. As the primary consumer of night flying insects, bats help control mosquito, beetle and moth (some of which are serious agricultural pests) populations.

Some of Delaware's most common bat species, little brown, big brown and tri-colored bats are affected by WNS. Some less populous species, such as the small-footed and long-eared bats, are also at risk. Other bat species found in Delaware, such as the red bat, silver-haired, hoary and evening bats are less at risk because they do not typically overwinter in caves and mines where the fungus is doing most of its damage.

The presence of the WNS-associated fungus in Delaware does not come as a surprise to bat biologists because all of the state's summer colonies of cave bats migrate here from other states with caves or mines and all of the states within migrating distance of Delaware have previously confirmed WNS.

Delaware officials will continue to search for bat colonies, monitor bats for signs of the disease and assess possible changes in population sizes. We ask that the public:

* Report bat roost locations;
* Report dead bats or bats exhibiting unusual behavior, such as flying during the day;
* Do not touch bats. In addition to the possibility of the bat carrying rabies, there is concern that humans can speed the spread of WNS by unknowingly carrying the fungus from one location to another.
Individuals interested in helping can volunteer to track Delaware's bat population. Please see http://www.fw.delaware.gov/bats for information on Delaware's volunteer bat count project.

To report a bat colony or unusual bat behavior, please call 735-8651 or enter the information on-line at http://www.fw.delaware.gov/bats/ and scroll to link at bottom of page.

For more information, please call Holly Niederriter of Delaware Division of Fish & Wildlife, at 302-735-8651.
-30-

Michael Globetti

Public Affairs-Office of the Secretary
Dept. of Natural Resources
and Environmental Control

In addition to the church, barn, attic questions, many press releases and media accounts are strongly encouraging the public to erect bat houses. Aren't these likely to become mini-WNS sites? Should erecting a bat house in the eastern U.S. be tantamount to a "take" under the Endangered Species Act, as any bats coming to it would likely be coming from an affected site, and probably bringing WNS with them? Okay, that last sentence is intended as sarcasm, but some might consider it serious, and it certainly points out the slippery slope we're on, and the challenges we're facing trying to find management answers that actually work.

[John Lovaas]

In addition to the church, barn, attic questions, many press releases and media accounts are strongly encouraging the public to erect bat houses. Aren't these likely to become mini-WNS sites? Should erecting a bat house in the eastern U.S. be tantamount to a "take" under the Endangered Species Act, as any bats coming to it would likely be coming from an affected site, and probably bringing WNS with them? Okay, that last sentence is intended as sarcasm, but some might consider it serious, and it certainly points out the slippery slope we're on, and the challenges we're facing trying to find management answers that actually work.

Heck, my mom and dad have wondered about the pluses and minuses of erecting more bathouses.

Peter- as to the question 'what should be mapped' I suggest the only answer is EVERYTHING. WIng punches? That should already be in an ArcGIS database, and a map showing those results should have already been produced and distributed. Mist net captures? Same thing.

I'm not saying that any answers will be found by visualizing all the data collected in discrete maps, but it sure can't hurt if there are maps in open circulation displaying the different 'flavors' of WNS positives(PCR/culture/histology/pathology), and 'how much' WNS there is (individual/cluster/colony).

If people can't see the discrete data mapped, instead of a catch-all 'WNS is here' layout, that's a near guarantee that useful information won't be made visible via GIS.

[PYoungbaer]

Thanks, John. Appreciate the input. By the way, nice quotes in the paper:

http://www.kentucky.com/2010/05/01/1248283/illinois-shutting-caves-in-attempt.html

[tncaver]

Peter- as to the question 'what should be mapped' I suggest the only answer is EVERYTHING. WIng punches? That should already be in an ArcGIS database, and a map showing those results should have already been produced and distributed. Mist net captures? Same thing.

I could swear I heard that mist nets were banned from use due to the difficulty in disinfecting them.

[PYoungbaer]

They are still permitted. The USFWS protocols say don't take them from a WNS state to a non-WNS state, and later, don't take them from a WNS site to a non-WNS site.

[John Chenger]

Peter you are probably right...we have been catching summer wns bats in counties the year before a hibernacula was identified, but then the hibernacula was identified and put on the map. It's starting to blur, if the map doesn't show summer wns sites it should, or at least some layer should. Another problem because those level 1 and 2 might be a bit subjective to inexperienced batters.

I don't think bat houses would do any more harm than good. The fungus doesn't work above 60° (or whatever the temp is) and bat houses are usually 100° or more. Maybe they can still pass it around, but since only cave bats use bat houses they are more likely to be dead meat from venturing underground than from a hot bat house.

[PYoungbaer]

Bat Conservation International's latest map:

[Batgirl]

Peter, do you have any thoughts about the jump to Oklahoma? And can you provide more information on the fungus that was found on the Myotis Myotis, which you said the hyphae were atypical. What are the biologists saying about this and is there any discussion about whether they think the spore is now morphing?