Bats in the Northeast: White-nose Woes

In the northeast, bats are dying and nobody knows why. It was first recognized last year in Albany, NY where about 10,000 bats--more than half of the wintering population there--died. Biologists noticed that most of the bats had something in common--a white fungus on their nose. However, it is unknown if it was the fungus that was killing the bats, or if it was just a symptom of a disease.

This year, the fungus--which is now being called white-nose syndrome--has been identified in bats in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Vermont, as well. It appears that bats with the fungus lose their fat reserves far too early in winter, and die as a result. Federal and state biologists, along with some caving organizations, are trying to determine the exact casue of death in these bats, as well as the geographic extent of the outbreak.

The fungus appears to be affecting all bat species, with greatest mortality to the local population of Little Brown Bats. The Indiana Bat, an endangered species, is also among the afflicted. It is unknown how white-nose syndrome will affect recovery efforts; but, Indiana Bat hibernacula and summer roost sites will be closely monitored.

Welcome Back, Wolves!

In one of the greatest species recoveries ever, the Gray Wolf was delisted from the Endangered Species list in the Northern Rockies today. Wolves were reintroduced to Yellowstone in the mid-90s, where they had been extirpated (made locally extinct) decades before. The population, which was considered an experimental non-essential population (a term I've never liked), grew quickly, and expanded its territory. The USFWS reached its goal of 30 breeding pairs in 2002, and the numbers are increasing, annually. Currently, there are 1500 wolves and about 100 breeding pairs in Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming--exceeding the recovery goals, by far.

Now that this DPS (distinct population segment) has been delisted, the USFWS turns over management of the wolves to the state wildlife agencies. The states are free to manage the populations as they see fit, including establishing wolf hunting seasons.

Once wolves wander outside of the designated area where they've been delisted, however, they will be granted protection under the Endangered Species Act again. The designated area includes Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, the eastern third of Washington and Oregon, and a small portion of north-central Utah.

While many environmental activist groups are up-in-arms about the delisting, there are many who are thrilled about it--especially Yellowstone managers who have seen an increase of 100,000 visitors per year since the wolves arrived.

Welcome back!

2008: The Year of the Frog

Frogs are in trouble. In the past 20 years, at least 120 amphibians have gone extinct due to habitat loss, poaching, pollution, and run-ins with invasive species. Wildlife managers and conservationists across the world recognize that at least 1/3 of all known amphibians face a similar fate. The American Association of Zoos and Aquariums has declared 2008 as The Year of the Frog. They are joined in their campaign by many other organizations such as The Wildlife Conservation Society and the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service to raise awareness and funding for amphibian conservation.

Many zoos have embraced the Year of the Frog campaign. The Bronx Zoo has installed new video and graphic displays in its World of Reptiles to highlight the ongoing amphibian crisis. Other zoos such as The National Zoo and The Detroit Zoo have added exhibits and events to do their part in education. Additionally, they are all working together with Amphibian Ark to raise $50-$60 million for research and conservation programs.

Some are calling the amphibian extinction crisis the greatest conservation challenge in the history of humanity, as it may lead to the largest mass extinction since dinosaurs.

Godzilla of Gasparilla

The ctenosaurs are here; and they’re taking over. When they’re done chomping through your yard, they’ll start gnawing on your electrical cables, and eventually on your house. Then, they’ll work their way inside by sneaking up through your toilet bowl. When it’s time to move on to the next house, they’ll be sure to leave behind a pungent reminder of their visit.

While this could be a trailer to a really bad horror movie, it’s not fiction. It’s all true and it all takes place right here in the U. S. of A. For residents of Gasparilla Island--an exclusive barrier island town in southwest Florida--the invasion of ctenosaurs is a reality they cope with every day.

They look like a creature straight from my nephew’s dinosaur books, and have a name to match. Ctenosaurs are also known as black spinytail iguanas--a reptile native to the southern Pacific coast of Mexico and Central America. Legend has it that a Mexican boat captain brought the iguanas to Gasparilla as pets for his children. When they grew large and confrontational, they were let go. With its comfy island climate, Florida was a place where the iguanas could not only survive, but thrive. As of December 2007 estimates, about 12,000 ctenosaurs roam the 3-square-mile sand spit called Gasparilla; they outnumber their human counterparts 10:1.

While many of the problems that the iguanas create involve property damage, they have had a huge ecological impact, as well. They’re great tree-climbers that target bird eggs and nestlings, and have the potential to wreak havoc for the endangered gopher tortoises and indigo snakes on the island. The ctenosaur problem is reminiscent of my days in Guam where the brown treesnake--another non-native invasive species--had the same predatory tendencies. The snake population there grew to about 10 million in about 70 years; and 9 of Guam’s 12 native forest birds went extinct. Gone forever. But the spinytail iguanas don’t stop at birds and eggs. They’re omnivores—they’ll eat most anything, including insulation, wiring, ornamental shrubs, and much more.

While a local ordinance offers protection for all wildlife on Gasparilla Island, frustrated residents are taking matters into their own hands. Armed with golf carts, traps, and BB guns, they are attempting to thin the herd. Because of the widespread nuisance the iguanas have created, local police have turned a blind eye to the slayings.

This year, a special "lizard tax" has been imposed for residents. The funds will bring federal biologists to the scene to try their hand at bringing the population to an acceptable level.

Much Ado About a Bird

When it comes to the Piping Plover, some say that the Cape Cod National Seashore is a victim of their own success. In 1985, this sand-colored shorebird landed itself on the endangered species list; only 18 pairs could be found nesting on the beaches of the National Seashore. Because of intensive recovery efforts by the National Park Service and the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 80 pairs scraped their nests into the beaches of the Seashore in 2007. The Piping Plover has been down-graded to a lesser 'threatened' level in recent years, and biologists patted themselves on their collective back. While the 141% increase in plover numbers is impressive, the recovery of the species has set the local community into a tizzy.

Protecting Piping Plovers involves "excluding" their nests from predators, and beach-goers, alike. Large sections of prime off-roading and fishing beaches are roped off once the plovers establish nests each spring. The driving restrictions extend through the summer until plover chicks fledge--sometimes into September. Businesses such as Nelson’s Bait and Tackle have complained of dramatic decreases in sales, and tourists have accused the small birds of ruining their vacations. Stuck between a rock and a hard place, the Cape Cod National Seashore has been forced to look at alternatives to closing entire beaches during breeding season. This winter, they worked on an Environmental Assessment and gathered the public's input to try and make peace with beach-goers while providing protection to this controversial little bird.

So, stay tuned--I'll report on the findings of the EA once they're available...

Welcome!

Welcome to The Wild Files--my forum for all things wildlife. You may find postings here to be heavy on the wildlife damage or human-wildlife conflicts side, as I've spent my entire adult life immersed in this field. However, I love keeping up with new research and other wildlife news from around the world. So, visit frequently, as I will be posting often. I look forward to your comments...

jennifer