The disease white nose syndrome WNS has caused severe population declines of hibernating BAT species across north america the fungus pseudogymnoascus destructans PD that causes WNS has spread to 36…

The Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Region 2 awarded a $665,699 Formula Grant to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department under the Wildlife Restoration and Basic Hunter Education and Safety program (CFDA 15.611) to study the movement ecology and population connectivity of the cave myotis bat (Myotis velifer) and inform management response to protect the species from impacts of white-nose syndrome in Texas. Specifically, the grant will support building on existing long-term bat monitoring efforts to collect novel capture-mark-recapture data using passive integrated transponder tags to estimate activity, movements, and demographic parameters of M. velifer at hibernacula and maternity colonies across two regions of the state. A $50,000 subaward was provided to Bat Conservation International, Inc. to support the project objective of protecting M. velifer through research on the impacts of white-nose syndrome in Texas.

The disease white nose syndrome WNS has caused severe population declines of hibernating BAT species across north america the fungus pseudogymnoascus destructans PD that causes WNS has spread to 36 counties in texas, and the first mortality from WNS in cave myotis myotis velifer was reported in february 2020 this project will address a key knowledge GAP in our understanding of the ecology of m velifer that impacts our ability to manage and conserve the species in texas we propose to study the movement ecology and population connectivity of m velifer at hibernacula and maternity colonies across two regions of the state by building on existing long term monitoring efforts and collecting novel capture mark reencounter CMR data using passive integrated transponder PIT tags to estimate activity, movements, and demographic parameters to benefit species management the purpose of the project is to inform management response to protect m velifer, a species at risk of severe population declines from WNS in texas