US Fish & Wildlife Service

 

Date of this Version

9-2014

Citation

Draft USFWS Captive Bat Management Report, September 2014.

Abstract

This report describes the process and presents the results of a structured decision making effort that was initiated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in November 2010. This initiative addressed the potential efficacy of captive bat management to as one means of addressing white-nose syndrome for seven species of concern. This was done by comparing alternative management strategies against identified objectives, and by comparing captive management against no captive management. Expert elicitation was used to conduct the analyses, which concluded in 2012. Afterwards, the team of U.S. Fish and Wildlife biologists that was convened for the decision making effort reviewed results, made recommendations, and prepared this draft report.

Although the results and recommendations have been presented to U.S. Fish and Wildlife decision makers, this draft report has not been approved by agency officials nor does it represent an official agency position. When approved, it will be considered a white paper rather than a decision document. Further, certain results and recommendations may need to be revisited. The analyses were conducted with a 5-year time frame in mind, and reconsideration of the status of the bats with regard to white-nose syndrome could result in modification of the decision framework that was developed for the initiative and/or inputs into the decision framework that was developed for the initiative. Updating is thus an integral aspect of the decision framework, which should remain relevant as long as questions regarding captive management as a possible response to the impacts of white-nose syndrome on insectivorous bats remain.

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