Applying Simulated Treatments to Bat Populations Experiencing Severe White-nose Syndrome Mortality

We developed a model allowing for the application of treatment strategies to bat populations at risk of severe mortality from WNS. The model allows the bat population to exist within a network of hibernacula and updates survival, reproduction, movement, treatment applications, and treatment related disturbance annually. For simplicity, the effects of WNS are experienced across all hibernacula on the same year. Magnitude of disease-related mortality is derived from values reported for Myotis septentrionalis, M. lucifugus, and Perimyotis subflavus. Treatments can be applied to individual bats or to the hibernaculum itself. Treatments applied to individuals can occur on the landscape or in hibernacula and be applied annually or biennially. Once an individual is treated it remains treated for the duration of the simulation. Treatments applied to hibernacula occur annually and every bat within the hibernaculum receives the benefit of the treatment for only that year.