The Southeastern Bat Expo and...

I had the pleasure of attending the Annual Meeting of the Southeastern Bat Diversity Network and Annual Colloquium on the Conservation of Mammals in the Southeastern United States conference from Feb 14-16 on Hilton Head Island. That's quite a mouthful, so let me summarize it by saying I attended a conference focusing on bats and other mammals of the southeastern region. Though the conference spanned just two days, it was brimming with valuable information. Here are ten condensed highlights:

1) Exploring Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge:
Even before the conference officially began, I joined 30+ fellow attendees for a tour of PINWR. This overlooked gem, nestled between Hilton Head and Bluffton, offers breathtaking views of salt marshes, maritime forests, and freshwater rookeries. It's definitely a place worth visiting, though if you are planning a visit, do note the lack of facilities on-site and stop in Bluffton before you get there!

2) NABat Workshop:
The conference kicked off with a workshop led by Pete Pattavina from USFWS on the North American Bat Monitoring Program (NABat). This program serves as a database to coordinate bat survey projects across the ten southeastern states represented at the conference (but is really a multi-national collaborative), aiding in informed decision-making by bridging the gap between data and policy. This website is a rabbit-hole of information – be warned!

https://sciencebase.usgs.gov/nabat/#/results

3) Wildlife Acoustics:
Acoustic surveys emerged as a key method for bat population studies, offering non-invasive data collection with minimal stress to bats. Wildlife Acoustics stood out as a preferred provider of ultrasonic recorders, with their devices facilitating real-time results for nocturnal programs. At CCPRC, we have a Wildlife Acoustics Echo Meter Touch 2 Pro, which is a smaller device that is used with a smart phone. This has been a great device to use for our programs here, however upgrading to a more stationary Song Meter Mini Bat 2 could offer more comprehensive recordings to gather a better idea of species diversity here at Caw Caw (Anyone have an extra $750?).

https://www.wildlifeacoustics.com/

4) Other Small Mammals of Concern:
While bats took the spotlight, discussions also revolved around other small mammals facing population declines, such as the Long-tailed weasel (Neogale frenata),

the Eastern Spotted Skunk (Spilogale putorius),

and the Northern Flying Squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus coloratus). Researchers explored innovative methods like enclosed camera trap systems and wildlife cameras paired with scent-detecting dogs to track these elusive creatures.

5) ECOS USFWS (Environmental Conservation Online System):
This comprehensive website provides access to endangered and threatened species data, conservation plans, individual species reports, and more, serving as a valuable resource for conservationists and researchers. Another website with a lot of information to digest!

https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/

6) Dolphin Health Studies with Drones:
Wayne McFee is a biologist at the Hollings Marine Lab here in Charleston. He shared intriguing research on using drones to collect health data from marine mammals. This aptly referred to “snotbot” offers a non-invasive approach to gather insights into respiratory health, hormone levels, and overall well-being, revolutionizing marine mammal research. Here are some links to his research:

https://coastalscience.noaa.gov/news/using-uas-to-collect-dolphin-health-data/

https://coastalscience.noaa.gov/news/successful-preliminary-uas-flights-collect-dolphin-blow-microbiome-samples/

7) Bat Conservation and Wind Energy:
Michael Whitby from Bat Conservation International shed light on the impact of wind energy on bat populations, emphasizing the need for research to mitigate bat fatalities at wind farms. With millions of bats killed by wind turbines annually, further investigation is to develop sustainable practices. This is especially vital not just for inland wind turbines but for offshore wind energy farms as well. Fascinating research has shown that bats are often seen offshore during migratory periods. There are at least 15 wind farms on the horizon to be built in the Atlantic Ocean over the next ten years, so time is running short to find solutions for safe alternative energy.

Seeking Answers on the Wind - Bat Conservation International

8) Threatened & Endangered Bats in the Southeast:
The conference featured discussions on endangered bat species like the Northern Long Eared Bat (Myotis septentrionalis), highlighting the impact of white-nose syndrome and habitat loss on their populations. Motus towers emerged as a valuable tool for tracking bat movements, offering insights into their behavior and conservation needs. This species in particular has four known locations in the along the South Carolina coast; Palmetto Bluff, Francis Marion Forest, Santee Coastal WMA, and Sandy Island.

9) Lasiurini vs. Eptesicini Morphology:
An engaging presentation comparing the morphological differences of skulls between bat species, shedding light on their dietary preferences and coexistence within ecosystems. The bats compared in this study were from the Vespertilionidae family – representing Lasiurus - the Hoary bat and Red bat, and from the genus Eptesicus - the Big Brown Bat and Silver-haired bat. This presentation was actually one of my favorites!

10) Bats in Road Structures:
The importance of road structures, such as culverts and bridges, as bat habitat was emphasized. States are working to develop protocols and databases, and establish collaborations between conservation agencies and transportation departments to promote bat conservation and awareness.

This conference was a rich variety of insights into the conservation efforts and challenges facing bats and other small mammals in the Southeastern United States. It was such a pleasure to attend and represent the Coastal Master Naturalists Association! I am very grateful for all of the many things I learned and new relationships made. I will be looking forward to sharing more of this information with you all soon (as this article was condensed from seven pages to two!).