What’s Happening to Bats in the Northeast?

An Update on White-nose Syndrome

David StilwellU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Many Slides Originally from Alan HicksNew York State Department of Environmental Conservation

What is White-nose syndrome (WNS) ?

WNS is a name we have given to an as yet unidentified agent or agents that is apparently causing mass mortalities at a growing number of bat hibernacula in and around NY.

Bats are also flying near affected sites during daylight hours and are often found dead near the entrances or on nearby structures. Day flying bats are reported more frequently nearer the hibernacula, and as winter progresses beyond late January. Affected animals have substantially depleted fat supplies, which are exhausted long before food is available in the spring.

The most obvious symptom of the problem is the presence of a white fungus around the nose of some, but clearly not all affected animals. The fungus can also be present on the wing or tail membrane.

Affected animals tend to shift to roosts in colder regions of the caves or mines, and concentrate in unusually high numbers near the entrances. This is often within the zone of light penetration.

Caves not searched

Contaminated Caves 2006

2-16-06 First Observation

Howe Cave

WNS photographed. Up to 18 dead bats per

trip were observed.

Paul Ruben

2006

Increasing reports of bats on the winter

landscape beginning in late January

2007

Caves not searchedContaminated Caves 2006Contaminated Caves 2007

1-18-07 First Observation

Schoharie Caverns

Many bats unusually close to the entrance

4/25/07Knox Cave

350 carcasses collected

WNS observed

2007

Caves not searched

Contaminated Caves 2006

Contaminated Caves 2007

3/14/07Standard winter

survey of Hailes Cave

Thousands seen dead. White nose on half of

the survivors

3/28/07First Report Gages Cavern

805 carcasses eventually collected. No white noses

observed

3/14/07 Hailes Cave Survey

Roughly half the bats observed had a white fungus around the muzzle, It had not been noticed at either Schoharie Cavern, or Gages Cavern, although it was seen on animals at Knox.

3/14/07 Hailes Cave Survey

Carcasses, or parts of carcasses, were found on most rocks emerging from the resurgent stream. Examinations to date (not yet complete) indicated that body parts represent at least 600 animals.

Among the missing were all 685 Indiana bats (Myotis sodalis). Since the discovery of this species at Hailes Cave By Donald Griffin during the 1930’s, this was the first winter survey that we are aware of where they were not observed. M. sodalis have been absent during all three visits since.

3/14/07 Hailes Cave Survey

2007 Surveys (primarily routine Indiana bat surveys)

Not Surveyed

No mortalities

Small scale mortalities

Large scale mortalities

100 km

Sharer CaveThis event was believed to be flooding related.

Aeolus Cave A few bats were

found dead in the entrance

room; a rather common

occurrence since the 1930’s.

Surveys of other sites demonstrated that the problem was limited in distribution. Pink sites had evidence of mortalities.

Merlin's Cave About 50 bats

reported dead. This is a recently discovered cave.

These mortalities are suspicious.

2008 Surveys- As of 4/8/08

Most sites checked to date within 80 miles of the 2007 caves are affected

Currently Involves 400,000 to 500,000 Animals

Site# of Live Bats (year)

# of Carcasses Recovered in 2007

2007 Survey

2008 Survey % Decline

Hailes 15,584 (2005)count not yet complete 6,735 1,400? 91%

Gages 968 (1985) 805 NA 88 91%

Knox 1,948 (2001) 350 NA NA

Schoharie Caverns 1,329 (2006) 125 478 38 97%

2007-2008 Mortality Event Percent Decline Based on Winter Survey Counts

Photo by Merlin Tuttle, BCI

Background and Biology Bat to bat transmission during fall swarm or pre-hibernation movements?

Bat to bat transmission in hibernacula?

Bat to bat transmission at maternity colonies?

Cavers or researchers?

How Might WNS be Spread?

Indiana bats, and to a lesser extent little brown bats typically hibernate in dense clusters. It is hard to imagine a condition more conducive to the spread of disease, if WNS is a disease.

What is the Cause of Mortality?

• No real answers to date

• Bats are starving to death- very underweight, bats leaving hibernacula early

• Involved researchers: virologists, mycologists, pathologists, bacteriologists, immunologists, toxicologists

Participating Researchers/Laboratories

Boston University

NYS DEC Pathology

NYS Department of Health

Columbia University

Humboldt State

UC DavisUSGS Wildlife Health Center

USGS Ft Collins

Colorado State

University of Colorado

Cornell University

Indiana State

Disney APHIS

CDC Bucknell

USFWS

Summary• WNS has persisted for at least 2 years at some sites.• It appears to be killing 90+% of bats at these sites.• There may be varied vulnerability among species and

sites.• It appears to be rapidly spreading (although we do not

know what IT is or if/how it may be spread).• Look for white fungus on noses or exposed

membranes. Remember that not all WNS sites have bats with white noses.

• Look for bats in unusual roosts, especially near entrances.

• Monitor for winter reports of bats (Myotis) flying during the daytime, or roosting on buildings.

What does this mean for the Indiana bat?

Indiana Bat Hibernacula in New York State

(10 Sites)

4,000

9,0002,000

0-50

700

38,000

100

Confirmed affected

Apparently /possibly(?) clean

Indiana Bat Summary

• 7 Indiana bat hibernacula in NY and 2 in VT confirmed as affected

• ~10% of rangewide population affected to some degree

• Short-term effects appear to vary among sites

• Additional monitoring is needed

What is the Service doing?• Created a Webpage for information sharing

http://www.fws.gov/northeast/white_nose.html • General FAQ document• Caver decontamination protocols• Field equipment decontamination protocols• Future sampling for additional research into cause/spread

of WNS- T.B.D.• Mapping caver/biologist movements vs. affected sites• Tracking surveyed sites for presence/absence of WNS• Holding weekly conference calls among Service and

States• Coordinating researcher calls when needed• Applying for funding• Assisting with permit needs/review for listed species

issues• Assisting with field work

Next Steps???• Summaries/reports from all involved labs to date-

June 2008• Meet with researchers to discuss other

hypotheses, data needs, possible management strategies- June 2008

• Example data collection/research/monitoring options:– Track known maternity colonies – Fall swarming weight studies– 2008-2009 “on” year for Indiana bat hibernacula surveys– Additional surveys of other hibernacula– Captive studies– Contaminants

Funding Opportunities

• Internal Service Sources- Regions 3 and 5 applied for 2 pots of money. Region 4 may have applied as well.

• Opportunities for States– Traditional S6– Multistate Conservation Grant Program. ~4

million dollars. 0 Match. Letter of intent due May 2nd

– Northeast Regional Needs Conservation Program

– Potential future competitive SWG grants

Thank you for all of your involvement/help to date!