BLM WNS Meetings for New Mexico

[PYoungbaer]

These meetings were just announced by Jim Goodbar. They are a follow-up to two similar meetings two years ago. In the interim, BLM did a targeted cave closure of about 28 caves. BLM had done an Environmental Assessment (EA), and their order was for two years. Caver input is sought, and the meetings are open:

Two Meetings Scheduled to Discuss White-nose Syndrome in Bats

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is hosting two meetings for the purpose of updating the public on White-nosed Syndrome (WNS) in bats and agency policies to protect significant bat populations located on BLM-managed public land in New Mexico. Other agencies will be present at the meeting to answer questions about their WNS policies.

The informational meetings will be held in Carlsbad and Albuquerque:

February 4, 2013: 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm at the BLM Office, 620 E. Greene Street, Carlsbad, New Mexico

February 5, 2013: 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm at the BLM Office, 435 Montano Road, NE., Albuquerque, New Mexico

White-nose Syndrome (WNS) is a fungal disease first identified in 2007 that has killed more than 5 million bats. The fungus has been confirmed in 21 states and four Canadian provinces. Some affected sites have experienced more than 95% mortality of bats, making this one of the worst wildlife health crises ever recorded.

WNS primarily affects hibernating bats who must survive the winter by building up fat reserves during the fall. Scientists believe the fungus irritates, and then awakens, hibernating bats causing them to use up their fat reserves before their hibernation ends. Affected bats either starve or freeze to death during these winter arousals.

New Mexico is home to 28 species of bats, two of which are listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. Fortunately, New Mexico has no recorded occurrences of WNS to date. Bats are a natural and important part of New Mexico and are extremely important to the state’s environment, serving as pollinators and insect-eaters that consume large numbers of agricultural pests that might otherwise be treated with pesticides.

For additional information about the meetings, please contact Jim Goodbar, BLM’s Senior Cave and Karst Resources Specialist at 575/234-5929 or jgoodbar@blm.gov.