This $149,336.26 federal Project Grant award from the U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service (under the Fish and Wildlife Coordination and Assistance program, CFDA 15.664) to South Dakota State University (SDSU) supports a 4-year research project to generate essential data on the presence, distribution, habitat needs, and prevalence of white-nose syndrome in bat species within South Dakota.
Key activities include collecting and analyzing acoustic bat data at 50 sites, capturing and studying bats at up to 10 sites per year to confirm species and conduct disease monitoring, and assessing habitat associations to guide regional bat conservation efforts. The findings will help the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and partner organizations make informed decisions, especially regarding endangered and at-risk bat species like the northern long-eared bat, tri-colored bat, and little brown bat. Project performance will take place across public lands in South Dakota, and data will be contributed to national and international bat monitoring databases.