White Nose Syndrome-NSS Liaison Report
June 12, 2009

Introduction:

This report is being written just after the Congressional hearing on WNS.  With spring emergence, we believe most reports of the spread of WNS are over for the year – with the possible exception of confirmation of suspected sites in Canada.  Winter and early spring were devastating to more bats in a wider area, now including the Virginias.  Most suspect it will continue to spread, now threatening some of the country’s largest bat colonies, and additional endangered species.

Progress:

• Drafted the NSS WNS Policy Statement for the BOG.
• Completely revised the NSS WNS website.  Many thanks to Alex Sproul for the extra hours, and to other NSS members for suggestions.
• Developed a WNS brochure NSS members and grottos to use for public outreach, available as a free download from the WNS website.  Thanks to Carol Zokaites, Miles Drake, Mike Warner, and Cheryl Jones for assistance.  We reached out to grottos through the IO network and the conservancies and others through the Conservation network, plus the Youth Groups Liaison and Show Caves Liaison.  The National Park Service asked if they could copy much of our content and format for their own brochure.
• Attended the second Science Strategy Conference in Austin, Texas, May 27 and 28.  Thanks to BCI for covering expenses.  Proceedings will be posted on our website when available.
• Testified to a joint Congressional hearing June 4 on WNS as the invitation of the House Natural Resources Committee.  Prepared extensive written testimony. Complete testimony, video, and photos are on the WNS web page.
• Submitted an article on the Congressional hearing to the NSS News.
• Was asked by USGS to chair a task force on cave closures and limiting the potential for human spreading of WNS.  We have had two conference calls as of this writing, but no work product yet.
• Awarded an additional research grant to Dr. Hazel Barton from the NSS WNS Rapid Response Fund, bringing the total number to five. Total awards are now are over $28,000. Interim financial reports from grantees have been received. We have a balance as of June 12 of nearly $28,000. 
• Maintain virtual daily contact with scientists and agency personnel working on WNS.
• Organized a meeting with USFWS personnel, NSS Preserve Managers of our NY Preservers, and the Northeastern Cave Conservancy that resulted in the NSS and NCC NY caves opening for the summer.
• Continue to stay in contact with affected NSS Nature Preserve managers. In addition to the summer opening of the NY Preserves, Tytoona remains open — and that still seems appropriate.

Plans:

• Monitor funded projects and post reports of research activities;
• Publicize and promote the WNS Rapid Response Fund to encourage donations by individuals and environmental organizations;
• Follow up on Congressional hearings to advocate for research funding;
• Continue to make recommendations, based on the latest available research, on the NSS Preserve openings and closures relating to WNS;
• Continue to respond to NSS board and member questions regarding WNS through the e-mail address wnsliaison@caves.org;
• Organizing a meeting on WNS for the ICS/NSS convention – Thursday afternoon;
• Now that the SWG multi-state grant is awarded, I will continue to advocate for and facilitate volunteer caver assistance in fieldwork projects — something the NSS pledged as an in-kind contribution in our letter of support for the grant;
• Will attend a three-day workshop of the National Institute on Mathematical and Biological Synthesis, June 28, 29, and July 1, at their invitation and expense.  This workshop is designed to bring mathematical modeling expertise to WNS issues.  Epidemiological models for disease spread or human transmission are likely subjects of the workshop.

Problems:

• WNS continues to spread, threatening bats with extinction, and caving as an activity. As it begins to affect new regions, local cavers begin to be more directly affected: events have been canceled, decontamination procedures all of a sudden have more meaning, bat hibernacula are closed to visitation, etc. What had been a Northeast problem, has now taken on a more national significance.  We are unlikely to hear much about WNS over the summer, other than news about closures, politics, and funding.  The sheer potential impact of the spread of WNS to more bats and more bat species has mind-boggling implications for our ecosystem, agriculture, the environment, and caving activities and cave access.
• Funding for research. One new tentative funding request has come in.  Other research requests are on hold, pending the release of the proceedings of the Austin Science Strategy meeting May 27 and 28, where new priorities were debated.  It is also unclear how the multi-state SWG funds will flow to any researchers, nor what, if any, new federal emergency funding may be forthcoming.
• Continued slow release of detailed primary source field and laboratory research data.

As I write this, I’m aware of only two publications of research upcoming:  one naming the new Geomyces sp. of fungus, another describing a diagnostic for WNS.  Other research projects have timelines that would lead to fall and winter publication.

Conclusion:
The NSS must continue to play a significant role in the WNS investigation, management, and dissemination of information.   While we work to protect bats, we also need to strategize around the future of cave access across the country.  Using our expertise to inform appropriate cave opening strategies will become paramount in the near future.  Insisting on research that addresses these issues is an appropriate role for the NSS.  Urging our entire membership to stay engaged locally and in the public regulatory and Congressional policy discussions is critical.  Other far larger environmental groups and wildlife management groups not expert in the cave environment are involved;  we must remain so, as well.

Peter Youngbaer, NSS 16161
WNS Liaison
wnsliaison@caves.org