Citizen Scientists Sought for Summer Bat Survey

Since White Nose Syndrome (WNS) was discovered in a New York cave in February 2006, bat populations throughout the northeast and several mid Atlantic (and now mid-west) states have been devastated with more than one million bats dying from what researchers believe is linked to this fungus.

The fungus found on the bats has been identified as Geomyces destructans and typically appears on the faces and wings of hibernating bats but is virtually never seen on the bats once they leave the caves. Hibernating bats commonly awaken during the winter to hydrate themselves with moisture that condenses on their fur. However, affected bats awaken more frequently which uses up much of their fat reserves. It is not known how the fungus adversely affects the bats or if it is truly the cause of their deaths. Consequently, in mid-winter the bats become hungry and awaken to hunt for food. Of course, there are no insects flying in January or February and the bats generally die from starvation or freeze to death.

WNS has affected all 5 of our cave bat species here in CT. Since these cave bats are long-lived animals (some can live 20 years or more) and their reproductive rate is slow (usually one pup per year) to recover from this devastation, will take many years. Until researchers understand the disease better, little can be done to mitigate it.

Researchers are hard at work, however, and you can help. The Connecticut DEP Wildlife Division biologists are interested in the location of summer bat maternity roosts where female bats gather together to give birth and raise their young. By conducting at least two bat surveys, your data can be added to that of other “citizen scientists” and provide researchers with more information than they could gather on their own. Wildlife Division biologists may want to conduct extended research at selected roost sites. The time that it will take to find the roost exits, count the bats and record your findings should only take a few short hours for the entire process. You do not need to be able to identify which species of bat you are counting.

The first count should be done between the last week of May and the 3rd - 4th week of June before pups begin to fly. This count will help determine the number of females in the roost. The second count should be done between July 4th and July 31st after most pups begin to fly. This count will help determine the reproductive rate of the roost.

If you want to help researchers with summer bat counts, the complete protocol for the surveys can be found on this website. There are forms for:

• Introduction and Protocol
• Data Sheets

For more information contact licensed bat rehabilitator Linda E. Bowen at linda@cmsincorporated.net or CT DEP Wildlife Division biologist Christina Kocer, christina.kocer@ct.gov.