Summer Colony Monitoring Pamphlet

Transcription

1 Summer Colony Monitoring Pamphlet Wisconsin Bat-Roost Monitoring Project Bureau of Natural Heritage Conservation Species Management Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources 101 S. Webster St. PO Box

2 WNS Investigation and Response Summer Colony Monitoring* 2013 Dear Citizens of Wisconsin, Current as of March 12, 2013 There is urgency to this request for assistance. A new threat to Wisconsin s cave bats is moving towards our borders and is producing consequences for multiple bat species in North America. The unprecedented threat is White-nose Syndrome; a fungal disease that fatally affects bats during their hibernation season. White-Nose Syndrome (WNS) is a devastating disease of hibernating bats that has caused the most precipitous decline of North American wildlife in recorded history. Since it was first discovered in 2006, WNS has infected six species of insect-eating bats in the northeastern and southern U.S., causing declines approaching 100% in some populations; estimated losses have exceeded one million bats over the past three years. If the spread of WNS is not slowed or halted, further losses could lead to the extinction of entire species and could more than quadruple those that are federally listed as endangered in the U.S. Such losses alone are expected to have unprecedented consequences on ecosystem health throughout North America, with unknown economic consequences. Most bat species in North America feed on night-flying insects, of which many are pests of forests, agriculture, and garden crops or pose risks to human health. The number of insects consumed annually by one million bats is staggering equivalent to 694 tons emphasizing the extraordinary value of these bats to the normal function of both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Establishment of a national comprehensive research program is urgently needed to identify underlying mechanisms causing WNS and to develop sound management solutions." Groups, families, organizations, landowners, and you can all help answer questions that may be the difference between 1) conserving bats as a valuable natural resource on the WI landscape or 2) watching the status of some WI bat species decline from common to rare to threatened to endangered and unfortunately the possibility of local extinctions. Become an active participant in the WI Bat Monitoring Program and decide what level of commitment you are willing and able to maintain. In collaboration with additional Midwestern states, the WI DNR is seeking immediate assistance from the citizens of Wisconsin. We are undertaking a Bat-Roost Monitoring project with an accelerated timeline that is needed to address the emerging and rapid expansion of this devastating threat (WNS). There are a number of ways to participate and focus your efforts. Staff from the Endangered Resources program will find a match for you that best fits your skills, interest, and provides the greatest contribution to the project goals. When you are willing to participate, we will gladly accept your assistance to help protect one of our great natural resources. The true impact on bat populations cannot be determined using estimates from hibernacula alone; therefore, we are soliciting help from within and beyond the WNS affected areas to assist in a nation-wide effort to collect data during summer months through maternity colony monitoring and acoustic sampling. The rapid advance of WNS has eliminated the opportunity to collect baseline data in the affected northeastern states, but we still have time to establish some pre- WNS information in Midwestern states. Summer bat monitoring through the surveys described in this package will provide three levels of information; 1) impact of WNS on affected bat populations; 2) baseline data on populations in advance of WNS, and; 3) insight into summer symptoms and possible transmission of WNS in summer roosts. Your participation in any or all of these efforts is encouraged and will support the regional and national WNS Investigation and Response effort. Through this packet of information, we are providing a menu of summer bat survey options that will enable you to contribute to the WNS Investigation and Response effort. We encourage you to participate in all surveys if possible. The attached documents provide details on how to conduct the survey(s). The Q&A information with this letter is designed to answer the bigger picture questions you may have regarding participation in this important effort. 2

3 WNS Investigation and Response Summer Colony Monitoring 2013 Thank you for starting your contribution to the national WNS effort. We appreciate your time and commitment. Please contact Heather Kaarakka (WDNR) or ] or John Paul White (WDNR) or ] with questions regarding the use of protocols and data forms. Sincerely, the WNS Maternity Colony Monitoring Task Group Enclosed or Attached: Summer Maternity Monitoring Q&As Emergence Count Monitoring Introduction and Protocol Site Surveyor Data Form Site and Landowner Data Form Emergence Count Data Form *The WNS Summer Colony Packet was designed by the PA Game Commission and has been adapted to fit the needs of the Wisconsin DNR/Endangered Resources/Inventory & Monitoring. This consensus statement was drafted and approved by a group of leading scientists who met at the WNS Science Strategy II Meeting convened in Austin, Texas on May 27-28, Figure 1: Most recent distribution map of WNS affected states. 3

4 WNS Investigation and Response Summer Colony Monitoring 2013 WNS SUMMER COLONY MONITORING Q&As: Which stakeholders can participate? These surveys include opportunities for contribution from multiple partners. Emergence counts may be conducted by landowners, volunteers, students, researchers or staff. As most bat colonies in the summer on private lands, we are relying almost exclusively on landowners and volunteers. What are the basic surveys? Maternity Colony Monitoring Emergence counts: Site visits should be conducted at least twice a season during both the pre-volant (before flight) and post-volant (after flight) time periods. Female bats give birth to pups from June 1 July 1 which is known as the prevolant period. As the pups mature, they are ready to forage and fly at 3-4 weeks after birth. This stage when the young begin to fly is known as the post-volant period. Acoustic Monitoring The Wisconsin Bat Monitoring Program has developed a training program and associated guidance documents so that volunteers can conduct acoustic bat surveys throughout Wisconsin. Contact John Paul White at John.White@Wisconsin.gov or Heather Kaarakka at Heather.Kaarakka@Wisconsin.gov or visit the Wisconsin Bat Monitoring Program website for more information. How does this effort fit in with the national WNS response? The Wisconsin DNR is working in cooperation with federal and state agencies as well as academic and conservation organizations to investigate and respond to WNS. The surveys described here are part of that effort, and your participation will help support this national priority. State and Federal agencies can retain their individual databases, but regional sharing of data will be a key to success of this project. Therefore, at the end of the summer roosting period (at end August), all project partners will be asked to send summarized data or data reports to the WNS Project Manager for reporting to the US Fish and Wildlife Service. How to get started? Attached (or enclosed) you will find protocols and data forms to facilitate standardized data collection and enable analysis of data across the region. Please direct questions to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources through Heather Kaarakka (WDNR) [Heather.Kaarakka@Wisconsin.gov or ] or Paul White (WDNR) [John.White@Wisconsin.gov or ] Descriptions of the files and forms needed to complete the Summer Colony Monitoring effort appear on the following page. 4

5 WNS Investigation and Response Summer Colony Monitoring 2013 The following documents have been provided for your use in the Summer Colony Monitoring effort. Regional Protocols: Emergence Count Monitoring Introduction and Protocol Reporting Sick/Dead Bats Protocol Field Forms: Surveyor Data Form Site and Landowner Data Form Emergence Count Data Form Reporting Sick/Dead Bats Form You can submit data sheets electronically to Heather Kaarakka (Wisconsin DNR) or ] or John Paul White (Wisconsin DNR) or ] or mail hard copies directly to: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Heather Kaarakka Bureau of Natural Heritage Conservation 101 South Webster Street Madison, WI

6 Summer Maternity Roost Monitoring-Emergence Counts White Nose Syndrome (WNS): Multi-state Coordination, Investigation and Response to an Emerging Wildlife Health Threat INTRODUCTION The methods used in this survey will be used to: Identify and evaluate the approximate size of bat maternity roosts by conducting general emergence counts; evaluate emergence variances between bat pup pre-volant and post-volant counts using more extensive count surveys at some locations; compare the number of reproductive verses non-reproductive females; and provide opportunities for WDNR staff to collect biological samples at maternity roosts as needed by WNS researchers. The Goals of the survey are to: Gather base-line information on summer colonies; evaluate the impact of WNS on summer colonies; assist in the identification of the primary WNS contagion; determine if WNS contagions persist and can be transmitted in summer roosts; and correlate long term trends with the spread of WNS. This survey is primarily geared toward little brown bats (Myotis lucifugus) which appear to be heavily impacted by WNS in the northeast US. COMMITMENT Protocols will vary depending on the surveyor s commitment and expertise. It is hoped that surveyors will commit to conducting surveys over the next several years or longer once you find out how enjoyable bat counting is. The initial commitment is a volunteer or researcher who locates at least one roost and conducts a minimum of one emergence count of that site a year. Locating and conducting a base line emergence count is one of the most important aspects of this study. You may be contacted by researchers to use your site in a more extensive study. Once you have participated with an initial commitment and learn how much fun counting bats is, you may want to increase your effort. Listed below are different levels that can be used in this study. LEVEL 1- Find a roost and conduct at least one emergence count of a roost between 15 May and 1 August. Additional roosts can also be located and additional counts conducted. Base line information on many roosts is extremely valuable. If conducting one count try to conduct in mid-july (late lactation for females) when the colony should be most stable. LEVEL 2-Find a roost and conduct at least one (pref. 2) or more emergence counts of a roost before most pups begin flying (prevolant). Pre-Volant: Conduct between Last Week in MAY and 3 rd Week in JUNE. And at least one (pref. 2) or more emergence counts after most pups begin flying (post-volant). Again, target mid-july. Post-Volant: Conduct after July 4 th through July 31. LEVEL 3- conduct at least one emergence count of a roost at least every 2 weeks (preferably every week) starting the: Last Week of May through July 31 Researchers use Level 3 s high commitment because some roosts begin to disperse soon after pups begin flying. Maternity roosts can be very dynamic and it is often difficult to pick out the best dates for sampling the pre-volant and post-volant periods. For intensive research purposes, it is also recommended that you conduct at least 2 or more counts on consecutive evenings to obtain error parameters. 2 Week Peak Volant Pre-volant Period Post-volant Survey Survey General guidance for conducting emergence surveys for states planning to initiate emergence surveys. In Wisconsin the 2-week peak Volant period is the ~ last week of June and 1 st week of July. Weeks 1, 2, and 3 are preferred weeks for emergence counts. Another aspect of this study involves researchers with the appropriate state and federal permits. You may be contacted for permission to use your site in these studies. Proposed work includes netting during the pre-volant period to capture females and evaluate reproductive condition, gathering weight data, banding, and collecting samples for lab studies such as skin and blood samples. 6

7 Summer Maternity Roost Monitoring-Emergence Counts White Nose Syndrome (WNS): Multi-state Coordination, Investigation and Response to an Emerging Wildlife Health Threat PROTOCOL Finding colonies of bats: Country churches and other old structures provide the best opportunities for finding bat roosts. The largest colonies are usually located along major rivers or other large bodies of water and other colonies can be found most everywhere near forests and water. Buildings such as old houses, country churches, and barns are likely candidates. Usually you can just ask some local people about buildings with bats. Generally bat roosts are locally known. If you re lucky, someone will know of artificial roosts created just for bats. The bat species will usually be little brown (Myotis lucifugus) and big brown (Epetiscus fuscus) bats where females congregate in spring through summer to give birth and rear their young. How can I identify the species roosting in my bat house or building? Big brown bats are about twice the size of little brown bats and also have a much broader and blacker muzzle than little brown bats. However, may people do not get the chance to see their bats up close to physically identify them. A simple alternative to identify the species is by the size and shape of the guano. Big brown bat guano is obviously much larger than little brown bat guano. It is also more football-shaped compared to the rice-shape guano of the little brown bat. See the images below for examples of little brown bat and big brown bat guano. If you cannot identify the species, you may send a small zipclock bag of guano to the roost monitoring coordinator, or take a photo of the guano with a coin similar to below, and send it to the roost monitoring coordinator. Left- big brown bat guano compared to a quarter. Right- little brown bat guano compared to a nickel. Data Forms- The information you collect will be maintained in a database used to research WNS. A database provides uniform formatting and storage of your data so it can be compared with other surveys. This requires the use of standardized reporting forms. Please use them. 1. Surveyor Information Data Form: This is used to register you within the program. Please print legibly so that your contact information is entered correctly. You only need to complete this form once, unless changes are needed. 2. Site and Landowner Data Form: It s important to make contact with the landowners and get their approval. Location information is important. Please record the state and county. If you have a GPS unit, please record the latitude, longitude and datum the unit is set on. If you do not know the datum, write unknown. If you have no access to a GPS, please copy a map with the site circled and return with the form so a general location can be recorded. Otherwise, provide general directions from a town, major road intersection, or other recognizable feature on a map. Record the species using the roost if known, otherwise circle unknown. The last portion of the form collects the landowner s contact information. You only need to complete this form once unless addresses, or other information changes. 7

8 3. Emergence Count Data Form: Use this form for recording the actual bat count. Be sure to indicate the site name and you as the surveyor. Record the date, sky and wind codes (codes are on bottom of form), start temperature, start & end time, total bats counted and technique used, which will usually be visual. Please make a note of other surveyors in comments. Also note any unusual observations. The form page has space for 2 counts. If you conduct more than 2, please copy more forms. The Survey- It is best to do some scouting before hand to determine where bats are exiting. To determine the primary exit, look for discolored areas in and around chimneys, eaves, and soffits along with concentrations of guano beneath the exit. You may find that you need help in covering all the exits (front and back of a structure). Please try to survey when starting temperatures are above 60ºF and wind and sky codes are 3 or less. Bring a thermometer, paper and pencil and the emergence form. Arrive ½ hour before sunset. Locate where the bats are exiting the structure and count them as they exit. Some may re-enter, especially when there are pups inside. Try to keep track of this. If you find that you have a mega-colony that numbers in the thousands, you may need to tally them by the 10 s as they exit. Position both yourself and helpers for easy viewing of bats exiting. It is best to be in position to have the bats silhouetted against the sky for easier viewing. When more than one surveyor is needed, it s a good idea to turn the count into an evening social, with dinner or an ice cream parlor visit afterwards. Please remember to ask permission of the landowner and enjoy the experience. Roosting Estimate- If time does not permit an emergence count and the roosting bats can be counted, a roost estimate may be recorded in comments. This can also be used if you have access to an attic with roosting bats. Record the total bats for the count, record other in technique and note roost estimate and counting method in comments. This type of count is generally a minimal estimate since many bats may not be seen but it does record a roost. Upon the completion of any re-survey, landowner and surveyor information should be checked and updated if necessary. Thank you again for participating in this important survey of your wildlife resource. Return Survey Data to: Heather Kaarakka (Wisconsin DNR) heather.kaarakka@wisconsin.gov or or John Paul White (WDNR) john.white@wisconsin.gov

9 After you ve found a bat roost, how do you go about counting the bats that use it? Counting a roost may seem like a simple task, but it can be hard to see the bats as they exit. A few simple suggestions can make the experience much easier and more pleasant. It is easiest, and most productive to count the bats while they fly out in the evening. Shining lights into the roost structure disturbs the bats. Often the bats are tightly clustered and you cannot distinguish individuals to conduct an accurate count. Sit or stand so that you can see the bats fly out of the roost opening against the night sky. It is much easier to see them with a light backdrop. With a building, sit so that you are looking along the side of the wall not straight on. Bats will begin exiting minutes after sunset, and will continue to exit for about minutes. In all, the count will usually not take more than an hour to complete. How do you know when all of the bats have left? Not all the bats will exit during the survey. A few will remain in the roost. To tell when you can stop counting, wait for a five minute period, and if no bats have exited, you have completed your survey. Do not shine lights into the bat house to look for remaining bats. Sometimes they will make noise and you can tell that some still remain in the roost. 9

10 Summer Maternity Roost Monitoring-Reporting Sick/Dead Bats White Nose Syndrome (WNS): Multi-state Coordination, Investigation and Response to an Emerging Wildlife Health Threat One tool to measure the health of a population is to determine the mortality rate, which is the rate by which individuals die within a population over a unit of time. Unfortunately little is known with regards to the natural mortality rate within nursery populations in Wisconsin. The information you provide to us will assess the health of a given population across the state of Wisconsin. If you find one or more sick and/or dead bats, please fill out the reporting form for electronic submission or see page 10 for a hard copy of the reporting form. If you are reporting five or more, the WDNR Wildlife Health Program may be interested in investigating for diseases and cause of death. Please consider collecting any freshly dead carcasses for this purpose. Carcasses that have been dead more than 12 hours are generally not useful. Do not collect carcasses if there is a noticeable odor or there are insects present. Do not attempt to collect a live bat (contact your local DNR office to get advice on local services available for assistance if removal of the bat is required). If you are not sure if it is dead, do not handle it. If you are certain it is dead it can be safely collected by either wearing gloves or by putting your hand into a plastic bag and using it as a glove and then inverting the plastic bag around the carcass. You can then do one of the following with the bagged carcass: o put it in a freezer; o o put it in a leak proof container with ice to keep it cool; if outside temperatures are cool (below 45 F), place it in a sealed container to prevent scavenging by other animals Wash or discard the gloves and wash your hands with soap and water. Indicate in the comments section that you have collected one or more carcasses. DNR staff will contact you as soon as possible about the carcasses, but if you have questions or concerns contact your local DNR office. If a person or domestic animal has been exposed to a bite, scratch, or saliva from a live or dead bat call the local public health department for further guidance regarding getting the bat tested for rabies and consult your physician or veterinarian. 10

11 Summer Maternity Roost Monitoring-SURVEYOR INFORMATION Data Form White Nose Syndrome (WNS): Multi-state Coordination, Investigation and Response to an Emerging Wildlife Health Threat SURVEYOR INFORMATION (CONFIDENTIAL): NAME: ADDRESS: CITY: STATE: ZIP: PHONE: SURVEYOR TYPE (circle what best describes you): Landowner -You are surveying a roost on your own property (use this even if also surveying other sites you do not own). Volunteer Student Researcher -You are surveying as a volunteer and have limited expertise in both bat identification and ecology. -You are a student studying bats with a basic expertise in both bat identification and ecology. -You are actively involved in bat research on an academic and/or professional level. COMMENTS: (Bat experience etc.) 11

12 Summer Maternity Roost Monitoring-SITE and LANDOWNER Data Form White Nose Syndrome (WNS): Multi-state Coordination, Investigation and Response to an Emerging Wildlife Health Threat Sitename or Number: 2 Digit State abrev.: County: LAT: º - (N) LON: º - - (W) DATUM (circle): WGS84 (preferred) NAD83 NAD27 Lat/Lon Precision (circle): GPS From Map County. Resolution Not Mapped Other (specify) (Circle- GPS if GPS unit used; From Map if plotted from map; County Resolution if coordinates are only County specific) Roost Structure is: barn church occupied house unoccupied house utility building bat box bat condo bridge tree cave mine unknown other structure (describe): Primary Species within Roost: or Unknown (circle if unknown) (list only 1 if known., and make comments on others) COMMENTS (include directions to site, where bats are exiting, how many surveyors needed at site, other species roosting, landowner s plans for the bat colony, history of site regarding bats, etc attach more sheets if needed): LANDOWNER INFORMATION (CONFIDENTIAL): NAME: ADDRESS: CITY: STATE: ZIP: PHONE: RESPONSIBLE SURVEYOR NAME: 12

13 Summer Maternity Roost Monitoring-EMERGENCE COUNT Data Form White Nose Syndrome (WNS): Multi-state Coordination, Investigation and Response to an Emerging Wildlife Health Threat SITE NAME or No.: SURVEYOR: (a site/landowner data form needs to be completed at least once) (Lead Surveyor who is responsible for reporting and has completed a SURVEYOR Info data form) SKY WIND START START END TOTAL TECHNIQUE USED CODE CODE TEMP TIME TIME BATS enter DATE # # ºF (24 hr) (24 hr) COUNTED VISUAL or VIDEO Other Surveyors: Other COMMENTS: SITE NAME or No.: SURVEYOR: (a site/landowner data form needs to be completed at least once) (Lead Surveyor who is responsible for reporting completed a SURVEYOR Info data form) SKY WIND START START END TOTAL TECHNIQUE USED CODE CODE TEMP TIME TIME BATS enter DATE # # ºF (24 hr) (24 hr) COUNTED VISUAL or VIDEO Other Surveyors: Other COMMENTS: CODE SKY CODE 1 Clear-Clear to a few clouds 1 Calm-Leaves Still 0 MPH 2 Partly Cloudy-Clouds but variable sky conditions 2 Slight Breeze-Leaves slightly Rustling 1-7 MPH 3 Cloudy-Mostly cloudy or overcast 3 Gentle Breeze-Leaves and twigs in motion 8-12 MPH 4 Drizzle-Light intermittent rain 4 Mod. Breeze-Small branches begin to move MPH 5 Showers-Steady soaking rain 5 Windy-Small Trees or more in canopy sway MPH 6 Thunderstorms-Rain with thunderstorms 6 Not Recorded- Not Recorded 7 Not Recorded-Not Recorded Sky and wind codes of 1 3 are best. Code of 4 is marginal. Avoid surveying if code is higher than 4. WIND 13

14 Summer Maternity Roost Monitoring-Reporting Sick/Dead Bats Data Form White Nose Syndrome (WNS): Multi-state Coordination, Investigation and Response to an Emerging Wildlife Health Threat Please fill out an on-line Sick/Dead bats form here: or you can complete the form below and send it to: Wisconsin DNR Natural Heritage Conservation Paul White 101 S. Webster St. Madison, WI * Indicates Required Fields * Name: Address1: Address2: * City: *State: Zip Code: * Phone #: * * Number of Bats Found: * Date of Observation: (mm/dd/yyyy) * County of Observation * Description of Location: Additional Comments: 14