Identify bat species presence, distribution, maternity colony abundance and white-nose syndrome occurrence in Rocky Mountain National Park

The National Park Service intends to award a task agreement to Colorado State University to identify bat species presence, distribution, maternity colony abundance, and white-nose syndrome occurrence in Rocky Mountain National Park. The project aims to gather baseline information regarding bat species presence, distribution, maternity colony abundance, and WNS occurrence in the park. The project objectives include assessing species diversity, assemblages, and occupancy at the landscape level, conducting exit counts using infra-red video to estimate abundance of bats at the Holzwarth maternity colony, and conducting white-nose syndrome surveillance. Key aspects of the project include: • Conducting acoustic monitoring in six of the 16 North American Bat Monitoring Program (NABat) grid cells that partially overlap or are completely contained within Rocky Mountain National Park • Conducting exit counts using infra-red video to estimate abundance of bats at the Holzwarth maternity colony • Conducting white-nose syndrome surveillance by assessing Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd) occurrence at focal sites • Providing technical expertise and supervising staff in completion of the project goals and objectives • Following applicable park rules for work practices in frontcountry and backcountry areas, living quarters, lab and storage facilities