Bats Facing Regional Extinction in Northeastern US from Rapidly Spreading White-Nose Syndrome

[The Straight Story]

Bats Facing Regional Extinction in Northeastern US from Rapidly Spreading White-Nose Syndrome

ScienceDaily (Aug. 6, 2010) — A new infectious disease spreading rapidly across the northeastern United States has killed millions of bats and is predicted to cause regional extinction of a once-common bat species, according to the findings of a University of California, Santa Cruz researcher.

The disease, white-nose syndrome, first discovered near Albany, N.Y. in 2006, affects hibernating bats and has caused millions to perish, writes lead author Winifred F. Frick, in a study published in the August 6 issue of Science.

Frick, a UC Santa Cruz graduate who is now a post-doctoral researcher in UCSC's Environmental Studies department, said the disease is spreading quickly across the northeastern U.S. and Canada and now affects seven bat species. If death rates and spread continue as they have over the past four years, this disease will likely lead to the regional extinction of the little brown myotis, previously one of the most common species in North America, she said.

"This is one of the worst wildlife crises we've faced," Frick said. "The bat research and conservation communities are trying as hard as possible to find a solution to this devastating problem."

...

White-nose syndrome is associated with a newly discovered fungus that grows on the exposed tissues of hibernating bats.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/08/100805142945.htm

[BrklynLiberal]

1. This is sad and tragic...in many different ways..

[Ricochet21]

2. I agree

I agree

[Lorien]

6. Indeed. Bats are as essential to our ecology as bees are

without bats insect populations will explode and many species of trees and other plants will go extinct (the seeds need to pass through the digestive tract of a bat to germinate). This is very, very bad news.

[LiberalEsto]

3. No wonder mosquitos arereally bad this year

We need bats to control the mosquito population

[pipi_k]

7. Mosquitoes not bad where I am so far...

I'm in a small hilltown in Western Mass...lots of mines and caves where bats can congregate.

We have had some reports of the disease here, but in my own backyard area, where we have a couple of bat houses set up for them, the bats returned in May, and the insect populations are minimal...even mosquitoes.

I love those little bats

Before we put bat houses up some years ago, it was nearly impossible to go out in the summer without being eaten alive by mosquitoes.

[hankthecrank]

4. hope they find something to help

[Cleita]

5. Did you mean white-noise?

Or are clowns taking over the northeast?

[GoCubsGo]

8. No, the OP meant "white nose"

Like this:

[Cleita]

9. Aw, those little bats are cute. I hope they find

a cure for them.

[Tsiyu]

10. Here in Tennessee we're hoping they get well soon

It's really fun to be clamboring around in a low cave and then to shine your flashlight up ...where you find a sleeping bat right next to your face. "Yo!"


They never wake up; they just ignore you if you move along :7


We have many caves and cavers here. Our public caves in TN are closed and that has been extended. Many cavers are not going into private caves either, to give the bats a chance.


Link:

"Caves located on state lands in Tennessee will be closed for another year in an effort to slow the spread of White Nose Syndrome (WNS) among the state’s bat population.

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency is among the state agencies which agreed to close all caves on public property beginning July 1, 2009 for a period of one year. That closure has now been extended for one more year. The Nature Conservancy has also agreed to follow the state’s lead to extend the closure on all caves located on Nature Conservancy property.

snip

White Nose Syndrome, or WNS, is named for a white fungus that appears on the faces, ears, wings and feet of hibernating bats. Scientists are trying to determine the cause of WNS and its effects. Once a colony is affected, the fungus spreads rapidly and may kill 90 or more percent of the bats at the hibernation site in just two years.

Scientists believe WNS is primarily spread bat-to-bat as they cluster in caves and mines, but that it may also be unknowingly transferred from one cave or mine to another on the footwear, clothing and gear of humans visiting caves. Infected caves and mines may not show obvious signs of its presence."


more here:

http://www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_177868.asp