BAT MANAGEMENT

Vampire Bat

Terry Brant, Aspen Wildlife Services Inc. Eugene, Oregon Importance:

PCO’s, Home Inspectors & WCO Industries

Health & Safety of Worker’s Economics‘ Legal Status: Oregon/Washington Health & Safety Issues

 CDC reports, two most important health issues associated with Bat’s are: 1. Rabies past by saliva (bite). 2. Histoplasmosis caused by a fungus that grows in soil and material contaminated with bat guano. *Attic… Inspections and rodent work. Economic Issues

• US Department of Commerce: Estimated value of Bat Mitigation in the US, $11.9 Billion in 2009 ($240 million per state) *Without Bats* • US Department of Agriculture: Estimated loss of crops due to increased insect populations in US $22.9 Billion 2009 Estimated cost of crop insect management $53.7 Billion 2009 Legal Status

 Oregon: All species are Non-protected except; Townsend, Long-eared, Fringed, Western Small- Footed, Long Legged, Pallid, Silver Haired and Yuma (OAR 635-044-0130) Must have permission and permit from ODFW to trap, harass or exclude.

 Washington: All species are protected and cannot be hunted, trapped or killed (WAC 232-12- 011) exceptions are made for Bats in or immediately adjacent to a dwelling, removal is legal without a permit. (WAC 232-12-011) Most Common Species in Oregon/Washington

 15+ species in the Pacific North West  Most numerous “Little Brown Bat” California Myotis

(Myotis Californicus)

*One of the smallest in the US. Western Small Footed

Myotis (Myotis Ciliolabrum)

*Prefers arid climates. Little Brown Myotis (Formerly “The Little Brown Bat”

(Myotis Lucifugus)

*Most commonly seen by people, most numerous, most studied Keen’s Myotis

(Myotis Keenii)

*Smallest geographic area, can make an abrupt turn in 1/16th of a second. Western Long-Eared Myotis

(Myotis Evotis)

*Nests in mines, tree bark and rock crevices. Fringed Myotis

(Myotis Thyanodes)

*Very little known about their movements. Big Brown Bat

(Eptesicus Fuscus)

*One of the largest, 13” wingspan, fastest flying, clocked at 13’ per second Canyon Bat (Formerly Pipistrellus Hesperus)

Two species: Western (Hesperus) & Eastern (Subflavus)

*Found world wide, slowest & weakest in flight, feed during daylight, prefer cliffs and canyon areas. Silver Haired Bat

(Lasionycteris Noctivagans)

*One of the slowest flying, has two offspring, nests in old growth. Yuma Myotis

(Myotis Yumanensis)

 *Forage just above the water surface. Long-Legged Myotis (Formerly the “Hairy Winged Bat”)

(Myotis Volans)

*Very rapid flyer, prefers forested regions. Hoary Bat

(Lasiurus Cinereus)

*Dubbed “Teddy Bear” of North America, Hawaii’s only native Mammal, births up to four pups, 17” wingspan. Spotted Bat

(Ederma Maculatum)

*The “Mystery Bat” , first mist netted in 2002. Pallid Bat

(Antrozous Pallidus)

*Walk on the ground and hover during feeding Townsend’s Big-eared Bat

(Corynorhinus Townsendii)

*Curls it’s ears to look like Rams Horns when nesting. Damage Identification Damage Identification Damage Identification Damage Identification Damage Identification Damage Identification Damage Identification Damage Identification Damage Identification Damage Identification Damage Identification Damage Identification Damage Identification Damage Identification Damage Identification Biology & Behavior Little Brown Myotis Mammal, belongs to the order of Chiroptra “Myotis Lucifugus”

Size and Mortality: 1. True to it’s name - Dark Brown Color. 2. Adults are 6-10cm (2.4”-3.9”) long. 3. Weight averages 5-14 grams(.02-.05 oz) Females tend to be larger than males. 4. Typical Wingspan of 22-27 cm (8.5”-11”) 5. As most Insectivores it has 38 teeth that are razor sharp as are the prominent canines allowing it to grasp hard bodied insect in flight. 6. Most bats live 6 to 7 years and often up to 10 years, record is 33 years. 7. White Nose Syndrome may eventually threaten extinction. 8. Average sleep time in captivity is 19.9 hours per day. Biology & Behavior Little Brown Myotis Mating and Reproduction: 1. Mating occurs in two phases, “Active & Passive” – Active: Both partners are awake and alert. – Passive: Males mate with Torpid (sleeping) bats regardless of their sex. 2. Females store sperm until spring and impregnate themselves after entering nursery colony's. 3. Gestation lasts 50 to 60 days, birthing in May, June or July depending on 4. Usually have 1 baby, sometimes twins per year called “Pups” 5. The young are born in a altricial state with their eyes closed, means it is born in a helpless state. 6. Their eyes are opened on the second day, they cling to the nipple constantly until they are two weeks old. 7. At three weeks old they fly and at four weeks they are adult size and feeding on their own. Biology & Behavior Food, Feeding & Predation:

1. Bats are Insectivores and feed on moths, wasps, beetles, gnats, mosquitoes, midges and mayflies, termites etc. 2. They Echolocate to find their prey( a form of radar) The bat emits high pitched sound waves that bounce back to the bat when they strike an insect 3. Little Brown Bats scoops up the prey with their wings as they fly, accounting for the erratic flight people are familiar with. Can consume up to 1000 insects per hour. 4. A nursing female may consume her body weight each night. 5. **The Pallid Bat hunts Scorpions. 6. Bats have few predators but Hawks, Owls, House Cats and Raccoons occasionally hunt for bats. Biology & Behavior  Habitat & Roosting:

1. Range is found throughout North America, but mostly northern US & southern Canada.

2. Brown Bats have been found as far north as the Yukon and Iceland.

Little Brown Bats live in three roosting sites: – Day Roosts: Include buildings and trees – Night Roosts: May be in same site as day roost but bats pack together for warmth. – Hibernations Roosts: Typically use caves and unused mines. Biology & Behavior

 Hibernation & Nursery Sites:

1. To cope with winter conditions, most bats use a hibernation site called a “Hibernaculum” 2. Sites include: Tree cavities, caves, mine shafts, tunnels, bridges, old wells and attics. 3. Hibernaculum protects bats from predators, light, noise and intruders. Must be high humidity and cool enough to allow bats to maintain low body temps but not freezing. 4. Body temp drops to 1-2 degrees above site temp and heart rate drops to 1 beat every four to five seconds. 5. Nursery colonies consist of only females and pups. Males roost alone. Attics work well because of ultra high temps of 84 to 110 degrees. 6. Females normally return to the exact location they were born year after year. Disease Factors

1. Rabies: An infectious disease that attacks the nervous system. It is transmitted by bite or salivia. Three cases in Oregon 2013. One Coyote, two bats. 2. Histoplasmosis: Fungal lung disease dubbed “Cave Disease” Caused by inhaling spores after disturbing dried bat guano. 3. Parasites: Bats carry mites, fleas and bed bugs. 4. White Nose Syndrome: White fuzzy growth on the nose, ears and wings. Cold loving fungus. Causes the bat to use up it’s fat reserves before hibernation is over, “starvation”. – WNS is decimating entire bat populations. Up to 99% of bats in some areas are gone. Little Brown Bats, once the most common bat in North America may be in danger of regional extinction within the next 15 years. – WNS has not been detected in any caves in Oregon. White Nose Syndrome Health & Safety

 PPE for Applicators & Inspectors

1. Full face respirator or respirator and swimming goggles. 2. Crawl suite. 3. Bag and wash all clothes thoroughly. Questions !