Roost monitoring map.Monitoring little brown myotis colonies throughout Alaska
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In response to the arrival of white-nose syndrome (WNS) to Washington, the Alaska Center for Conservation Science initiated a bat maternity roost monitoring program during the summer of 2016. WNS is a disease that affects small, hibernating bat species during winter, and has a 90% mortality rate for infected little brown myotis (the only bat species present in interior Alaska) colonies. It is currently present in 40 states and 8 Canadian provinces in eastern North America, has killed over 6 million bats to date. Since we do not have a good understanding of where bats in interior Alaska roost during winter, it is not possible to monitor winter hibernacula for the arrival of WNS. However, since female bats return to the same roost each summer, investigating and monitoring populations at these roost sites is the next best alternative.
Since 2016, with the help of local residents and citizen scientists, we have collected emergence counts for XX little brown myotis maternity roosts throughout Alaska. Monitoring fluctuations in colony size over the years will allow us to detect local and regional changes. We thank all of the homeowners who have been involved in this research to date! Citizen science data are now being submitted to ADF&G. If you have a bat colony or would like to participate in local roost counts, drop us a line through our contact form!
Click on a roost dot to see the colony count data!
Note: locations have been intentionally shifted away from the true location.
PS - ADF&G has a citizen science acoustic monitoring program. See the driving survey results here: ADF&G Driving Surveys
Since 2016, with the help of local residents and citizen scientists, we have collected emergence counts for XX little brown myotis maternity roosts throughout Alaska. Monitoring fluctuations in colony size over the years will allow us to detect local and regional changes. We thank all of the homeowners who have been involved in this research to date! Citizen science data are now being submitted to ADF&G. If you have a bat colony or would like to participate in local roost counts, drop us a line through our contact form!
Click on a roost dot to see the colony count data!
Note: locations have been intentionally shifted away from the true location.
PS - ADF&G has a citizen science acoustic monitoring program. See the driving survey results here: ADF&G Driving Surveys