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T. WHITE-NOSE SYNDROME (WNS) <br /> Refer to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service protocol below for all White-Nose <br /> Syndrome (WNS) procedures below. <br /> Colorado White-nose Syndrome Decontamination Protocol Addendum <br /> 5/31/2012 <br /> All decontamination protocols as described in the current U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service <br /> protocol will be applicable to cave and mine visits in Colorado with the inclusion of the <br /> below information from the protocol dated 1/25/2011 — <br /> In areas of high cave density, however, circumstances may require that <br /> multiple caves be visited on the same day. Assuming that bat-to-bat <br /> transmission will likely account for the rapid spread of the fungus between <br /> caves in close proximity, and that only aspects of decontamination is going <br /> to be feasible within cave complexes visited on the same day in remote <br /> locations, the actions recommended in this protocol can be adjusted to <br /> accommodate field activities in these areas. Since limited hibernacula data <br /> show that bats easily move upwards of 10 miles in search of resources (i.e., <br /> food, mates, roost and hibernation sites) during portions of the fall, winter, <br /> and early spring, researchers should, at the very minimum, use full <br /> decontamination procedures on a daily basis and between any two caves <br /> more than 10 miles apart if surveying/monitoring multiple caves on the same <br /> day. Whenever there is a question, biologists and researchers should <br /> always choose the conservative approach of decontaminating gear, <br /> clothing, and equipment between each individual cave visited. <br /> In Colorado, this will allow for visits to more than one site if the below stipulations have <br /> been met: <br /> 1. The sites will be visited on the same day. Decontamination should occur after each <br /> day of site visits. <br /> 2. Movement between the sites will occur by foot. If any vehicle will be used to travel <br /> between sites within the 10 mile distance limit, gear should be decontaminated or <br /> securely stored in a container before entering/mounting the vehicle (including <br /> automobile, ATV, mountain bike, horse, etc.). If the site being entered is further <br /> than 10 miles from any other site the gear or clothing has already entered, that <br /> gear/clothing should be decontaminated or changed for clean gear/clothing. <br /> Other clarifications of procedures include: <br /> Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety SPECIFIC CONDITIONS <br /> SHEAP <br /> As of 6/20/2012 Page 7 of 9 pages <br />