Managing White-Nose Syndrome: the Federal Response

1. Managing White-Nose Syndrome: the Federal Response Jeremy T. H. Coleman, Mike Armstrong, Barbara Douglas, Robyn A. Niver, Lori Pruitt, Noelle L. Rayman, and Susanna L. von Oettingen

2. Federal Agencies U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Department of Agriculture U.S. Department of Defense

3. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has the lead for coordinating the Federal agency response to white-nose syndrome

4. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has the lead for coordinating the Federal agency response to white-nose syndrome Mission Statement: The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people.

5. USFWS Priorities National Wildlife Refuge System: Conserving Our Lands and Resources Landscape Conservation: Working With Others Migratory Birds: Conservation and Management Threatened and Endangered Species: Achieving Recovery and Preventing Extinction Aquatic Species: National Fish Habitat Action Plan and Trust Species Connecting People With Nature: Ensuring the Future of Conservation

6. USFWS Priorities National Wildlife Refuge System: Conserving Our Lands and Resources Landscape Conservation: Working With Others Migratory Birds: Conservation and Management Threatened and Endangered Species: Achieving Recovery and Preventing Extinction Aquatic Species: National Fish Habitat Action Plan and Trust Species Connecting People With Nature: Ensuring the Future of Conservation

7. Listed Bats http://www.fort.usgs.gov/WNS/

8. 1 6 3 5 8 4 2

9. WNS in Region 5

10. Containment • Surveillance • Research • Communication

11. Timeline of Response in R5 January, 2008 • USFWS requested to assist with coordination of WNS investigation • USFWS, VTDFW, and NYSDEC press releases on WNS and recommendations for staying out of caves/mines in NY and VT • Conference calls established to coordinate research and management • USFWS WNS webpage up for public dissemination of information

12. Timeline of Response in R5 February, 2008 • First decontamination protocols drafted June, 2008 • Coordination structure proposed • Task groups formed October, 2008 • RFP announced for WNS research - (Ultimately ~$735,000 for research in 2008/2009 in R5)

13. Response by Region • Region 5 - immediate response • Unaffected Regions (3 & 4), and some states, are working on Response Plans to prepare for WNS

14. Containing the Spread Transmission:Bat-to-batLittle brown bat movement to summer colonies from Mt. Aeolus, VT hibernaculum Anthropogenic Movement of people from cave to cave

15. Decontamination http://www.fws.gov/northeast/wnscavers.html

16. Cave Advisory – March, 2009 Due to threat of human transmission, USFWS recommends that people stay out of caves and abandoned mines to help slow the spread of WNS http://www.fws.gov/northeast/wnscaveadvisory.html

17. States Affected by Advisory http://www.caves.org/WNS/ICS%20WNS%20Policy.html

18. USFS Emergency Closure Order http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/docs/apr_2009_caves_closed/white_nose_info.pdf

19. CAVES CLOSED All caves, sinkholes, tunnels and mines on this property are closed in an effort to slow the spread of White-Nose Syndrome (WNS). This ailment has killed hundreds of thousands of bats in the eastern United States and may soon threaten bats in Kentucky. For more information, please visit: www.fws.gov/northeast_whitenose.html Thank you for your cooperation. State Closures

20. Surveillance • Population surveys (summer/winter) • Monitoring bat health and behavior • Sample collection • Public reporting Jonathan Reichard Source: Andrew King, USFWS, Bloomington Field Office

21. Outreach • www.fws.gov/northeast/white_nose.html • Media response and public inquiry response • Video production • Briefings • Presentations Radio-Canada-Television. documentary, VT

22. USFWS Resources • Internal Funding FY08-10 ~$2 million • State Wildlife Grant ~$940,000 • Additional State Awards ~$100,000 • Staff time and base funds

23. USFWS Resources • Internal Funding FY08-10 ~$2 million • State Wildlife Grant ~$940,000 • Additional State Awards ~$100,000 • Staff time and base funds • Non-Federal Funding • State match for SWG ~$432,000 • Grants: • National Speleological Society • Bat Conservational International • Indiana State Univ. Center for N. Am. Bat Research and Conservation

24. Coordination Effort Funding/grants FOIA Containment/ Decon. Public health Media inquiries State/regional concerns Outreach Public reporting WNS Investigation Captive propagation Consultation Lab research Rehabilitation Stakeholder interests Monitoring Field research

25. Partnerships are the Key

26. Current WNS Task Groups 1. Surveillance for WNS - Subgroup for Maternity Colony Monitoring 2. Chemical & Biological Control 3.Cave Closure & Human Transmission 4. Captive Propagation & Rehabilitation 5. Reporting & Data Management 6. Transmission Research 7. Susceptibility & Research Guidance 8. Communications & Outreach 9. Bat Genetics 10. Management Recommendations - Structured Decision Making Process

27. In Closing • Significant mortality • Spreading • Investigation takes time • Complex coordination needs • Control presents biological and social challenges • Multiple novel threats to bats in the northeast • Two listed species vulnerable now • Potential to impact 25 of 40 N. Am. bat species

28. Future • Increasing coordination between agencies • Dedicated funding • Science-based management recommendations