Pennsylvania Game News - August 2014 - 12

developed for mega colonies. By 2008,
18 condos had been built in place and
were housing 15,700 little brown bats.
In addition to the condos, surveys are
on file for 114 smaller bat boxes. The
total pre-2009 high-count for all boxes
- including condos - was 41,367.
The Game Commission had proven
over time that it could conserve both
winter and summer bat colonies. The
threefold increase of bats protected
in gated mines and caves, and the
ready acceptance of properly designed
and properly located bat boxes was
encouraging. This was prior to the
arrival of this fungus and its first winter impacts (2008-09). Six winters
later, most, if not all, hibernacula are
contaminated and bat populations, all
species combined, have declined by as
much as 99 percent. Bat gains from the
agency's relatively recent management
successes were lost.
By the end of the 2012-13 winter,
62 of our previously monitored
hibernating sites were confirmed WNS
sites. At 34 of these sites, the decline
of little brown, northern long-eared
and tricolored bats was greater than
95 percent.
The federally endangered Indiana
bat has been closely monitored for years
by all states. Data from 40 small hibernacula scattered across Vermont, New
York, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and
Virginia was combined. The average
decline for these sites, each infected
for two years, was 72 percent.
Winter mortality started having an
effect on summer maternity colonies
of little and big brown bats. By 2013,
bats using six previously monitored
maternity colonies linked to a known
WNS hibernaculum had declined
12

At 34 hibernating
sites infected for
two years or more,
the population
decline was greater
than 95 percent.
96 percent. In 2013, counts were
conducted at 197 summer roost sites;
157 sites had counts from multiple
years. There was an 86 percent decline at these sites and 25 no longer
have bats. The majority of the noted
declines are of the previously more
numerous little brown bat.
Declines of this magnitude in just
three winters alarmed the Pennsylvania
Biological Survey's Mammal Technical Committee. Scientists on the
committee reviewed the data and
concluded the previously common
little brown bat, tricolored bat and
northern long-eared bats qualified for
state endangered species status based
on the Game Commission's definition
of an endangered species, which is "to
be threatened with extinction."
The Mammal Technical Committee
petitioned the Game Commission
to officially list these species as state
endangered. In response to the request, the agency has reviewed the
social and fiscal implications of the
recommended listings and has solicited input from the public. Both the
Pennsylvania Biological Survey and
Game Commission recognize these
species and other cave bats are at risk
and are a high priority for research and
management.
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Pennsylvania Game News - August 2014

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