Tina Jackson Species Conservation Coordinator Terrestrial Section Colorado Parks and Wildlife 6060 Broadway Denver, CO 80216 303-291-7437.

Colorado Bats& WNS

Tina JacksonSpecies Conservation Coordinator

Terrestrial SectionColorado Parks and Wildlife

6060 BroadwayDenver, CO 80216

303-291-7437

Colorado Bats18 confirmed species2 Families

Vespertilionidae - “Common bats”Molossidae - “Free-tailed bats”

Many common in Front Range and mountainsLack of basic natural history information for many

species

WNS monitoring:Caves throughout the stateMines throughout the state, both new and previously gatedReported bat mortalities

Site checks to assess site/gate status and screen for mortalities

Engagement of the caving communityData loggers to collect site microclimate dataDetector set up over winter to detect abnormal activityAssessment of bat calls from detectors

CPW Bat Monitoring

Disease causing high numbers of bat mortalities≥ 6 million bats killed

First observed in New York in 2007, and is spreading westward

Now confirmed in 23 states and 5 provinces

White Nose Syndrome

http://www.whitenosesyndrome.org/about/where-is-it-now

You Are Here

Colorado Bats and WNSWNS has not been found in Colorado to date3 species native to Colorado have been infected with

WNS in the East Little Brown BatBig Brown BatTri-colored Bat

Other Myotis species may be vulnerable, which would include another 6 Colorado species

13 bat species rely in Colorado on cave/mine habitats for hibernation

WNS Response Plan

Purpose: “to describe the Colorado Division of Wildlife’s (Division) conservation and disease management actions to minimize the spread of white-nose syndrome (WNS) to bats in Colorado. “

“Collaborate with partners including federal agencies, tribal authorities, Colorado recreational caving organizations, private landowners, and the general public to manage the threat that WNS poses to native bat populations in Colorado.”

Coordination and OutreachMonitoring and Surveillance

WNS Response PlanCoordination and Outreach

Internal Coordination between Terrestrial Section and Wildlife Health ProgramScientific Collection PermitsBat Rehabilitation Permits

Serve as clearing house for WNS reports and samplesDevelop Education and Outreach materialsWNS Working Group

WNS Response PlanMonitoring and Surveillance

Develop Surveillance and Monitoring PlanIdentify Priority Sites for monitoring3 types of survey effort

High Priority SitesCoordinated (other agencies and AML work)Public Reporting

Coordinate with other agencies on surveillanceLand Management AgenciesColorado Department of Public Health and EnvironmentMunicipal Animal Control

WNS Response PlanPriority Sites

Distance to Oklahoma SiteBat-to-bat transmission risk (if known)Significance of Cave/Mine to native bats

Over 300 sites identified for 2011

Surveillance and Monitoring2 new Townsend’s Big-eared Bat hibernacula locatedAcoustic detectors deployed at ~30 sites

Data processing still on-going>3,500 bat calls identified

Microclimate monitoringInitial results

Over 100 sites received external surveys20+ dead bats received from public reports

No signs of WNS during any of this work

So now what…Winter Surveillance and Monitoring PlansContinue Acoustic and Microclimate MonitoringUpdate PlanUpdate WebsiteIncrease Public Outreach and EducationWait…