WNS Decontamination Protocol 2016
More links to the decontamination protocol for April 2016
Author: The Refuge
WNS jumps the Rockies
From the US Fish & Wildlife Service
“It is with heavy hearts that we announce today the confirmation of white-nose syndrome in the state of Washington. This detection is about 1,300 miles from areas where white-nose syndrome has been confirmed in Minnesota and where the fungus has been found in Nebraska.”
https://www.whitenosesyndrome.org/what-can-you-do-help
Udated “Cave Advisory”
Updated “Cave Advisory”: Recommendations for managing access to subterranean bat roosts to reduce the impacts of white-nose syndrome in bats
https://www.whitenosesyndrome.org/sites/default/files/resource/final-cave_access_advisory_2016_2.pdf
Recommendations to reduce the potential for humans to disturb hibernating bats or inadvertently transport the fungus that causes white-nose syndrome to uncontaminated bat habitats. This guidance was produced by the interagency national response to white-nose syndrome through the White-nose Syndrome Disease Management Working Group.
Free Pest-Control Service for the Winter Garden
Frio 28Mar2016 UTC Click to left for video
Last night, what looks like about 3-1/2 million bats emerged from Frio Bat Cave and headed south toward the Winter Garden area south of Uvalde, providing free pest-control service to farmers in a large area west toward Bracketville. Hope they stayed clear of the turbines at the wind farm. Anybody doing a count this morning?
Sunrise service work – Happy Easter!
Easter Bat – 911
First thing this morning we got a call from the Austin Police Department. Our first reaction? We didn’t do it! Then they said “We have a bat in the main building downtown, can Dianne come and help us?” So, ready to protect and to serve, we saved the APD from this bat. She sure does seem ferocious!
Austin metro area home to 2 million people
Bridge bats say “We never seen so many humans!” Maybe it’s global warming.”
http://www.mystatesman.com/news/news/local/austin-metro-area-surpasses-2-million-residents/nqrQF/
Releasing a Bat
I just had an amazing experience releasing a rehabilitated bat. They are so tiny! She was eager to join the party at Congress Bridge. Thanks Lee and Dianne. Your passion and love for bats is inspiring. Thank you for the great service you give to the Austin community and especially the bats!
The Bats are Back!
Bats are Back 16Mar2016 UTC HD (Click on link to see video)
The bats are back at Congress Ave Bridge in Austin!
This video from last night shows 3 or 4 separate flights from the bridge before a north front sweeps in, taking most of the bats along for the ride.
The last few years the bats have made sure to be back for the South by Southwest Music Festival.
The viewing is great these days, they’re coming out well before dark.
Rucker & Frio bat caves on a spring evening
After a week of rain, Rucker and Frio bats explode out on a lovely evening to explore the agricultural fields around Uvalde. It was a good night to be a bat.
Frio & Rucker 14Mar2016 UTC 40 Mg (click link on left to see video)
The dark
- “After thousands of years, we’re still strangers to darkness, fearful aliens in an enemy camp with our arms crossed over our chests.” Annie Dillard