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
Federal Agencies
U.S. Department of the Interior
U.S. Department of Agriculture
U.S. Department of Defense
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has the
lead for coordinating the Federal agency
response to white-nose syndrome
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.
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
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
Listed Bats
http://www.fort.usgs.gov/WNS/
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6
3
5
8
2
4
WNS in Region 5
1. Containment
2. Surveillance
3. Research
4. Communication
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
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)
Response by Region

Region 5 - immediate response

Unaffected Regions (3 & 4), and some states,
are working on Response Plans to prepare for
WNS
Containing the Spread
Transmission:
Bat-to-bat
Little brown bat movement to
summer colonies from Mt.
Aeolus, VT hibernaculum
Anthropogenic
Movement of people
from cave to cave
Decontamination
http://www.fws.gov/northeast/wnscavers.html
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
States Affected by Advisory
http://www.caves.org/WNS/ICS%20WNS%20Policy.html
USFS Emergency Closure Order
http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/docs/apr_2009_caves_closed/white_nose_info.pdf
State Closures
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.
Surveillance
• Population surveys (summer/winter)
• Monitoring bat health and behavior
• Sample collection
• Public reporting
Jonathan Reichard
Source: Andrew King, USFWS, Bloomington Field Office
Outreach
•
•
•
•
•
www.fws.gov/northeast/white_nose.html
Media response and public inquiry response
Video production
Briefings
Presentations
Radio-Canada-Television. documentary, VT
USFWS Resources
•
Internal Funding FY08-10 ~$2 million
•
State Wildlife Grant ~$940,000
•
Additional State Awards ~$100,000
•
Staff time and base funds
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
Coordination Effort
Funding/grants
FOIA
Containment/
Decon.
Public health
State/regional
concerns
Outreach
Captive
propagation
Media inquiries
Public reporting
WNS
Investigation
Consultation
Lab research
Rehabilitation
Monitoring
Field research
Stakeholder
interests
Partnerships are the Key
Federal agencies:
State/Provincial agencies:
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
U.S. Geological Survey
U.S. Forest Service
Department of Defense
National Park Service
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
The National Zoo
Smithsonian Institute
Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection
Delaware Dept. of Natural Resources and Environmental Control
Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife
Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game
Michigan Department of Natural Resources
New Hampshire Fish and Game Department
New Jersey Department of Fish and Wildlife
New York Department of Environmental Conservation
Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources
Pennsylvania Game Commission
Quebec Ministry of Natural Resources
Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife
Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries
West Virginia Division of Natural Resources
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Universities:
Boston University
Bucknell University
Columbia University
Cornell University
Eastern Michigan University
Indiana State University
Missouri State University
University of California, Davis
University of Guelph
University of Winnipeg
European biologists from:
Czech Republic
France
Germany
Italy
Netherlands
Romania
United Kingdom
Not for profit, NGOs & others:
Bat Conservation International
National Speleological Society
American Zoological Association
American Museum of Natural History
Northeastern Cave Conservancy
Center for N. American Bat Research and Conservation
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)
Disney
Bat World
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
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
•
•
Future
• Increasing coordination between agencies
• Dedicated funding
• Science-based management recommendations