The colorado plateau is a hotspot for BAT diversity in north america with 23 species

This Cooperative Agreement award, valued at $164,297.00, was provided by the National Park Service under the Cooperative Research and Training Programs - Resources of the National Park System (CFDA 15.945) federal grant program. The award will fund field research by Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University (Virginia Tech) to document bat species presence and activity in select national parks on the Colorado Plateau, a bat diversity hotspot. The research will also collect samples to assess the presence of white-nose syndrome, a threat to bat populations. The findings will provide the National Park Service and partners with critical information to inform bat management and conservation efforts, as well as educational content for public audiences. This multi-year project, with a performance period from December 2024 to July 2028, will deliver a large, long-term dataset on bat ecology in the region.

These species are under threat from white-nose syndrome (WNS). This project proposed to conduct field research to document presence of BAT species and document the BAT presence and activity around select parks in the region. The recipient will also collect samples to determine whether bats are infected with WNS. This study will provide national park service managers and partners information on basic BAT ecology to inform management actions. IT will also provide content for public audiences along with a large and long-term dataset.