WNS Liaison Report, 6/27/10

As of this writing, the winter hibernation season has ended, and so has the continual stream of reports of new WNS sites. Still, this winter saw WNS spread to Tennessee, Maryland, and Missouri, with reports of the fungus on a bat in Oklahoma and a summer bat in Delaware, a state with no hibernacula. Two additional bat species, the federally endangered Gray bat (Myotis griscens) and the Cave Myotis (Myotis velifer) have been affected, although the numbers are so far in the single digits. An as-yet-to-be formally confirmed report of the Southeastern Myotis (Myotis austroriparious) may add a third. Previously affected states continued to show decreased bat populations, including New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Virginia, which are essentially saturated now.
While numerous research projects are in progress, no breakthroughs on the disease have been reported. Lack of success in treatment experiments and a failed attempt at a captive breeding colony have frustrated disease mitigation efforts. Much, however, has been occurring on the management side, with many states preparing and issuing WNS plans and closure orders, something continued by several of the U.S. Forest Service units. A revised set of cleaning and decontamination protocols has been pending for months within the USFWS, and the expected publication in the Federal Register of the WNS National Plan for public comment has yet to materialize but is likely to appear before this report is read.

The new NSS WNS Policy Statement was adopted by the Board of Governors at the April meeting. We posted it on the WNS web page, along with the WNS Liaison Current Strategies. Thanks to the many NSS members who contributed.
Have continually updated the NSS WNS Brochure on the WNS website. Special thanks to Cheryl Jones and Carol Zokaites for keeping up with the ever-changing map. This is a public education and outreach tool, and available to anyone for downloading and printing. The National Caves Association drew liberally from our brochure for their new WNS brochure, with our encouragement. Similarly, the U.S. Forest Service is now using ours a starting point for their new brochure.
Completed the coordination of all the Hellhole WNS Survey photos, many of which appear in the final WVDNR report just issued this week. All photographers received a complete set. I am planning an article for the NSS News as part of our obligation to report on this NSS designated project.
Consulted frequently with cavers in many states over evolving management issues. This included feedback and suggestions on state plans, U.S. Forest Service actions, and the USFWS caving advisory. Also provided advice and demonstration for gear cleaning and decontamination stations at caving events.
Coordinated NSS participation and sign-on for written testimony submitted to the U.S. House and then the U.S. Senate on this year’s funding request for $5 million for WNS, pushing with the other advocacy organizations for more emphasis on research as opposed to monitoring and surveillance.
Continually questioned why the long delay in getting last year’s appropriation for research out on the street – ultimately resulting in $2 million currently pending in Requests For Proposals, an increase of $1 million, and a reflection of a push for more research dollars coming from many quarters
Awarded our 12th WNS Rapid Response Fund grant, but turned down another as not meeting our criteria. Several show caves have made significant donations as they rolled out their WNS brochures and posters. Over $91,000 has been donated to the fund, and nearly $75,000 awarded. Financial and program reports are routinely received from the researchers.
Coordinated caver participation (thanks Alex Sproul for representing the NSS as official spokesperson) in a USFS film project on invasive species and how it has affected people’s activities – in cavers’ case, the cleaning and disinfecting of gear. This is intended to be a half-hour show, with caving being only a few minutes.
Continually update entries on the NSS WNS website, including details of NSS grants, other research – both published and unpublished, maps, links, media accounts, cave closures, and related information.
Handle countless media inquiries on an almost daily basis, and actively work to correct erroneous information. We have noticed a change in media reporting, now citing bat to bat transmission as the primary method for spreading WNS.
Attended the May 25-27 WNS Symposium in Pittsburgh. This science and management strategy conference featured research updates, but also facilitated work on future directions, including a briefing of the pending National Plan. I was able to spend time with many of the NSS-funded researchers, as well as the key state and federal officials working on WNS.
Began consultation with the new NSS Government Liaison, Tom Evans, regarding WNS and specifically working to update the various Memoranda of Understanding with various federal agencies.
The U.S. Agriculture Secretary, Thomas Vilsack, is the first to formally reply to the NSS response to the CBD petitions. In his letter to President Birkhimer, he praised the NSS for its long commitment to cave conservation and collaboration, and directed the U.S. Forest Service to update it’s MOU with the NSS. USFS personnel discussed this with me in Pittsburgh, and I put Tom Evans in touch.
Was the keynote speaker Friday night at Kentucky’s Speleofest, which immediately followed the Pittsburgh Symposium, and I was able to share up-to-date reports in addition to my prepared remarks.
Worked with USFWS, Vermont F&W, NSS Safety and Techniques Committee, and Central Connecticut Grotto to have a 2010 NSS Convention that demonstrates that responsible caving and protection of bats are not mutually exclusive, through workshops, gear loaning, cleaning and decontamination. A special WNS talk will be given at the waterfront Aquarium and Science Center, open to the public, and publicized as part of the NSS Convention.

WNS continues to spread with no cure in sight. Research and funding for it lag considerably as the disease spreads. Blanket cave closures remain the dominant management approach by state and federal entities despite advocacy for a more targeted approach. I guess when the only tool you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail.
A revision to the USFWS decon protocols has been pending for months. Dr. Hazel Barton’s research on this was sent to USFWS in February, but nothing has been forthcoming.
The USFWS caving Advisory is 15 months old and woefully out of date and not reflective of the science that has evolved since its original issuance. There is no formal avenue for public input on revisions, so we have struggled to have individual cavers, grottos, and cave conservancies forward comments to USFWS.
While the U.S. Forest Service did not extend its Regional blanket closures, the individual forest units with caves, mines, or tunnels did individually, and not in any uniform way. Some extensions are for a year, but others are for several, including one for five years.
Attempting to gain $5 million in WNS funding from Congress. With the domestic spending freeze imposed by President Obama, it will be more difficult to find the money for research. This leaves management, monitoring, and surveillance as the funded activities.
Continuing to sustain and grow contributions to the NSS Rapid Response Fund, which has proven critical in plugging funding gaps and timely research needs.
Continuing to coordinate NSS and caver responses to state and federal management plans, including the imminent WNS National Plan.
Dealing with the fallout of the Center for Biological Diversity’s WNS petitions, including their recent filing of intent to sue over the USFWS not meeting the 90-day deadline for initial response under the Endangered Species Act. As the USFWS ultimately does respond, the NSS will need to prepare formal comment.
Keeping cavers engaged in a positive way.

Coordinate the NSS response to the WNS National Plan when it is published.
Monitor any federal response to the CBD petitions and comment accordingly.
Work with the NSS Government Liaison to ensure NSS WNS Policy goals are incorporated into revised Memoranda of Understanding.
Continue to foster NSS and caver participation in WNS field activities and public and educational outreach efforts. It is critical for the long-term viability of caving that our membership stays involved and visible at the local level. Assisting with summer acoustical monitoring efforts in many states is an excellent opportunity to contribute, and helps build positive relationships with state agencies.
Continue regular activities regarding the updating of the website, managing the WNS grants, responding to the media, and being the go-between for the caving and science and management communities.
Monitor the awarding of USFWS research grants to coordinate appropriate NSS WNS Rapid Response Fund that meet otherwise unmet and critical research needs, within the scope of our funds.
Monitor congressional budget activity on WNS funding and encourage and guide individual contact with representatives and senators.
Attend the fall North American Symposium on Bat Research to meet with WNS researchers and report on their presentations.
Present at a fall event in California at the invitation of local grottos.

WNS has clearly been elevated to national issue status. Unfortunately, funding for research dedicated to mitigating or stopping the disease is woefully inadequate, and the balance of what WNS funding is available is tipped heavily toward management versus science. The ramifications on caving and cave access of wildlife management decisions are likely to be felt for some time. With WNS knocking on the door to the West, where most land is publicly (primarily federally) owned, this may become far more of an issue. The NSS and cavers locally must work hard to maintain collaborative relationships with federal agencies and increase the private/public partnerships as per our WNS policy and long-standing conservation track record.
The NSS and its members need to be visible locally and nationally to maintain our standing as the country’s leading expert voice on caving and cave conservation. This spring, Berkshire, Massachusetts cavers organized an event at a local museum featuring a bat biologist (Al Hicks), myself, and Kevin Downey, world class cave photographer. Over 175 people turned out on a Saturday afternoon. They learned about bats, White Nose Syndrome, caving and the caving community’s involvement in addressing the problem. And they saw magnificent pictures of the underground world we know and love. The public and media came away with an understanding of our passion, our concern, and our involvement and collaboration. That’s a message we need more of – it will serve the NSS and caves well in the long run.

Peter Youngbaer, NSS 16161
WNS Liaison
3606 East Hill Road
Plainfield, VT 05667-9547
802-272-3802 (cell)
wnsliaison@caves.org