Chad Deaton (US Forst Service), Matt Niemiller (INHS, University of Illinois), Megan Harris (US Forest Service), Rod McClanahan (US Forest Service) and Steve Taylor (INHS, University of Illinois) prepared to enter a cave in southern Illinois to census bat populations and check for White Nose Syndrome. Photo by Steve Taylor, INHS.
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February 2014 was the last winter sampling for our three-year study of microbial communities on bats and in caves; however, beginning in February 2015, monitoring continues with a focus on capturing additional information about the status and spread of White Nose Syndrome (WNS) in Illinois hibernacula.
To increase coverage of the state, we are deploying Anabat Express recorders outside of select cave entrances to check for possible winter activity just outside of the entrances. This activity would be captured in the form of ultrasonic bat calls recorded using the Anabat Express. Flights of bats outside of cave entrances implies a high likelihood that the site contains WNS.
We also are increasing our coverage of counties in Illinois, entering caves and other hibernacula in hopes of obtaining a more complete picture of the distribution of WNS in the state, and the status of overwintering bat populations.
A Big Brown Bat (Eptesicus fuscus) with mites on its muzzel. This bat does NOT have White Nose Syndrome! Photo by Steve Taylor, INHS.
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A Little Brown Bat (Myotis lucifugus) showing classic symptoms of White Nose Syndrome. Photo by Steve Taylor, INHS.
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Edmund Tucker, a caver and Field Assistant on the project, installing an Anabat Express ultrasonic recorder outside of the entrance to an Illinois cave to check for abnormal bat activity. Photo by R. Baldwin.
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Postdoctoral researcher Matt Niemiller checks field forms during assessment of a hibernaculum in southern Illinois. Photo by Steve Taylor, INHS
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We were lucky to encounter a healthy, but state-endangered Rafinesque's Big-eared Bat (Corynorhinus rafinesquii) in one of the caves. This distinctive species is very rarely encountered during Illinois hibernaculum surveys, though it is more common in states further to the south and east. Photo by Steve Taylor, INHS.
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