WNS Concerns & Service Guidance for Myotis Conservation Bats & Fire Workshop Mammoth Cave National Park, Mammoth Cave, Kentucky April 30, 2014

OVERVIEW WNS Observations Gray Bats Indiana Bats Northern Long-eared Bats Little Brown Bats Tricolored Bats Improved Understanding of Where Bats Persist on the Landscape Survey guidance Other methods being researched Proposed Listings & Status Assessments

WNS- Observations from the Southeast Earliest infected sites in NC and TN have had declines similar to other NE states (~95% winter) Smaller declines now being observed in KY NC also reporting summer capture declines

Gray Bats De-listing of gray bats put on hold once WNS arrived in U.S. WNS confirmed from a few gray bats in TN Observed large scale movements of some hibernating populations in TN & AR WNS related? Populations remain stable to increasing although WNS confirmed as early as 2011

Indiana Bat Population Trends 8/26/2013

Indiana Bats WNS confirmed on individuals in TN & KY Visible fungus always observed after MYLU, PESU, & MYSE(2 nd year) Large scale movements of some hibernating populations in IN Approximately 20% decline in some minor KY hibernacula during winter of 2014 Few sites surveyed are mostly stable in TN during this non- Indiana bat year

Northern Long-eared Bats Difficult to assess impact due to hibernation strategy Declines reported from wintering populations in NC & TN Pre- and Post- WNS wintering populations trends in KY are variable Some population “spikes” in numbers of bats documented within a year of WNS infection Documented mortality as far west as AR (January 2014) Summer capture rates remain stable currently Typically 3 rd most common species throughout much of the Southeast including KY

Little Brown Bats Little brown bat populations declining States with sites of multi-year infection are seeing significant declines (NC, TN & KY) Approximately 60% in many KY hibernaculum (2014) Some sites are remaining stable

Tricolored Bats Perhaps the most visibly impacted species thus far in the Southeast Difficult to assess overall impact on hibernating populations Population “spikes” at hibernaculum post infection as individuals move towards entrances Biologists in NC, TN, KY, GA, and AL observed hanging dead tricolored bats at multiple hibernaculum in over the last two winters We know significant mortality is occurring but overall numbers in hibernaculum are not much different than pre-WNS estimates

Improving Detection of Species Vitally important to know where populations persist so that adequate protection is provided when needed – P/A Survey Guidance – Acoustic Lures – Wildlife Detection Dogs 10

2014 Indiana Bat Summer Survey Guidance

2014 Guidelines: A Phased Approach 1.Initial Project Screening - existing records search and habitat assessment 2.Presence-Absence Surveys - conduct mist netting OR acoustic surveys 3.Follow-up Mist-netting Surveys (optional) to capture any bats initially detected in Phase 2 surveys. 4.Radio-tracking & Emergence Surveys

42 net nights 9 net nights 2014 LOE 4 detector nights

White Paper – Recommendations Varying netting LOE based on WNS status in RU Definition of “WNS-impacted” RU for survey protocols: If winter counts document that ≥50% of Priority 1 and 2 hibernacula within a RU decline by ≥30% from their most recent pre-WNS population estimates OR the total RU population declines by ≥30% from their most recent pre-WNS population estimates, then that RU should be considered WNS-impacted

White Paper – Recommendations 2014 (based on pre-WNS and 2013 pop. #s) WNS-impacted RUs: Northeast (70% decline) and Appalachian (45.8% decline) NOT WNS-impacted RUs: Midwest (2.5% decline) and Ozark-Central (no decline)

Northern Long-Eared Bat 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?)

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 – Positive results after two summers with increased capture of not only Indiana bats but all species of bats compared to previous capture rates within same colony home range

Improving Detection of Indiana Bats Wildlife Detection Dogs – One dog trained to detect Indiana bat guano – KYFO working with handler to evaluate dogs abilities and determine applicability in context of consultation and recovery workload Roost trees and hibernacula

NLEB Proposed Listing as endangered due to WNS FR Notice published October 2, 2013 Public comment period closed January 2014 Service currently considering comments submitted Almost 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 (finalized Jan 2014) Consultation & Conservation Guidance (Oct 2014) Section 10 Permits Recommendations for past, present, and future projects

Species Status Assessment Updates Little Brown BatTricolored Bat

Timeline 1.USGS/USFWS little brown bat demographic model 2.Expert Elicitation – Range wide – Several working groups (for example: genetics, dist/abund, ecology) – Completed April 2013

Current Activities Continuing to work on status assessment Includes examining all listable entities under the ESA (species level, subspecies, or any possible distinct population segment (s))

Midwest Region Lead Contact Karl Tinsley (office)

Tricolored Bat Service Initiated Assessment Timeline – Initial stages of review – In the process of summarizing data collected during 2011 multi-species request – Anticipate a second request for new information going out in May After winter surveys and spring emergence work – Validating recent publications on range expansion

Interested in: Interpreting the population “spikes” that are consistently being documented during first years of WNS arrival at hibernaculum – Hopeful the analysis of new data will help

Northeast Region Lead Contacts Jonathan Reichard National WNS Assistant Coordinator (office) (cell) Christina Kocer Northeast Region WNS Coordinator (office) (cell)