Several bat species have emerging threats and two, the little brown bat and hoary bat, are currently under review for ESA listing. This project is needed to gather data crucial for conservation of those species. White-nose syndrome (WNS) is considered one of the worst wildlife diseases of modern times and has greatly impacted populations of several hibernating bat species. Currently, 12 bat species, including four endangered species have been confirmed with white-nose syndrome in North America. USFWS listed two of those species, the northern long-eared and tricolored bat, due to the impacts of WNS. The little brown bat, which is found in Utah, is under a discretionary status review for ESA listing with a listing decision pushed back to 2026. Although we have expected it, the causative fungus was first detected in Canyonlands National Park this year. In addition to the little brown bat, other bat species in Utah are susceptible to WNS and it is still unclear how the disease will progress in western bat species. There is some data supporting hope, in that WNS has spread more slowly with apparently lower mortality in some areas and species. Rather than straightforward disease progression, some sites (including Minnetonka Cave less than 5 miles north of Utah) have shown inconsistent detections of the causal fungus. However, other work has found a greater than 95% decline in capture rates of long-legged, little-brown, and fringed bats six-years post WNS introduction and Yuma bats have been documented with high fungal loads. Our long-term monitoring has formed the background of and has given us a much better understanding of the distribution of and trend in occupancy. We now have among the most robust pre-WNS pictures of bat populations and are uniquely poised to determine the impacts of WNS on bat occupancy and distribution as it affects western species. However, occupancy is a course metric and may not reveal declines in abundance. To complement the occupancy monitoring, we propose to develop sentinel-site monitoring for bat species. Rather than a random or statistical approach, sentinel sites will be chosen that have large and/or accessible bat populations. The goal at these sites will be to count individuals at roosts or capture enough bats to look at body and reproductive condition. These sites can also serve as targets of conservation actions. For example, we may deploy experimental WNS vaccination trials for fringed myotis. In addition to WNS in hibernating species, wind energy has emerged as a threat to tree-roosting migratory bats. An estimated 76,000 to 152,000 hoary bats are killed each year in collisions with wind turbines and recent (2021) published literature claims hoary bats could decline by 50% by the year 2028. Based on that work, USFWS is conducting a discretionary status review to determine if the species warrants listing. Hoary bats undergo seasonal migrations, and mortality at wind turbines is highest during that period. Hoary bat populations in Utah are heavily male biased and it is unclear where they travel during migration and thus their exposure to wind infrastructure. We need movement information to help explain, minimize, and mitigate hoary bat deaths at wind facilities. Recently several researchers have had success deploying MOTUS tags of hoary bats. Given our investment in MOTUS towers and now extensive coverage in Utah, we would like to deploy MOTUS tags on hoary bats during the fall migration period. To accomplish this work, we fund an existing biologist with substantial WNS and bat expertise to lead the project for 6 months.

1) Develop a sentinel site monitoring approach to supplement occupancy data with population data. 2) Deploy MOTUS tags on hoary bats to determine migratory movements. 3) Incorporate that information into conservation actions.

The fungus that causes WNS was first documented spring 2024 in Canyonlands National Park. That, combined with the pending ESA listing decisions, make this project time sensitive.

Utah Bat Conservation Plan -identifies population monitoring as the most important tool for guiding, evaluating, and adapting bat management Utah white-nose syndrome protocol - Prior to the detection of WNS in Utah- conduct activities to prevent or delay WNS spread and prepare Utah for the arrival of WNS through communication, bat population monitoring, disease surveillance, disease prevention, and public education. Obtain and compile baseline information on bat species distribution, relative abundance, and hibernacula counts. Identify and protect sites used by bats for hibernation or maternity colonies. Collect and curate existing data to help guide WNS management. White-nose syndrome national plan- this project's objectives support the Communication and Outreach (Actions A.2.1.4, A.2.3.1 and 2), Disease Surveillance (Actions F.2.1.b and c) and Conservation and Recovery (Actions G.2.1.1, 2 and 3, G.3.3.1, 4, and 7) goals outlined in the National Response Plan. North American Bat Conservation Partnership Strategic Plan - supports priority research actions. Wildlife Action Plan- directly addresses threats to the Allen's big-eared bat, big free-tailed bat, fringed myotis, Townsend's big-eared bat, western red bat, and Yuma myotis identified in the Wildlife Action Plan and executes conservation actions for those species including: population research and monitoring; habitat research and monitoring; evaluating population response to change; and protecting significant areas. Species Conservation Assessment and Conservation Strategy for the Townsend's Big-eared Bat - WAFWA MOU "to identify, protect, and restore important habitats and viable Corynorhinus townsendii populations throughout the species' range in the western United States" Also supports actions identified in DoD INRMPs, BLM RMPs, and USFS plan.

ESA listing of a bat species can have substantial impacts on the planning and implementation of fires and hazardous fuels work as bat species routinely use standing dead trees as roosts. For example, a draft eastern forest plan calls for buffers on forest management and/or harvest of up to 0.75 miles from the capture of reproductive female bats.

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No specific federal compliance is required. All cooperating agencies working with bats will need a Certificate of Registration issued by the UDWR. Bat workers will also comply with the UDWR's rabies policy, WNS protocol, and aquatic invasive decontamination protocol. We will also take protective measures against reverse zoonotic spread of COVID. Monitoring will occur on tribal lands, and all needed permits and permissions will be obtained.

Sentinel sites- we will review roost and capture records to determine potential sites for each species population monitoring. At each selected site, counts or captures may be used to gather data. The bat biologist will work with regional UDWR biologists and bat conservation partners to develop protocols that can be completed yearly, without overwhelming available resources. A methods document will be developed for each site to ensure long-term consistency. MOTUS on hoary bats- The bat biologist will work with existing project to obtain training on the proper attachment of MOTUS tags to hoary bats. The biologist will use existing data to identify sites with a high likelihood of capturing hoary bats just prior to the migratory period and near existing MOTUS tower networks. Mist-nets will be used to capture bats and up to 25 MOTUS transmitters will be deployed. The biologist will be responsible for data management for both projects and work to translate the results to management actions.

Bat monitoring has been incorporated into the UDWR Wildlife Conservation Biologists' work plans and bat occupancy monitoring protocol implementation is a priority every three years. Sentinel sites will be visited every year to complement that work.

The Utah Bat Conservation Cooperative has representatives from the Department of Defense, U.S. Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service, U.S.D.A. Natural Resources Conservation Service, UT Division of Wildlife Resources, UT Division of Oil, Gas, and Mining, UT Division of Parks and Recreation, Utah State University, Brigham Young University, Southern Utah State University, The Nature Conservancy, Rocky Mountain Power, Kennecott Utah Copper, Volunteers, caving grottos, and Wild Utah Project. Through that partnership, all parties have been involved in project planning and have made commitments to long-term implementation of the bat monitoring protocol and bat conservation in general. The group has biannual business meetings.

Management activities stemming from this project implementation could include, but are not limited to: restricting access to roosting habitat during critical time periods; implementing restrictions outlined in the WNS protocol if any signs of the disease are detected; and improving habitat through artificial roost structures or other on-the-ground actions. Data will be made available to partners in bat conservation though the "BatBase" web-enabled database. This database will enable biologists land managers to easily enter and search for bat data in-line with data sharing regulations.

ESA listing of a bat species can have substantial impacts on other sustainable uses of natural resources. For example, a draft eastern forest plan calls for buffers on forest management and/or harvest of up to 0.75 miles from the capture of reproductive female bats. Hoary bat listing would likely lead to restrictions on wind energy and costly permitting requirements. Recreational activities such as climbing and cave exploration could also be impacted by ESA listing.