White-nose Syndrome has killed more than 5.7 million bats since it was discovered in a single New York cave in February 2006. Seven bat species in 22 U.S. states and 5 Canadian provinces have now been documented with WNS. The Pseudogymnoascus destructans fungus that is the demonstrated cause of WNS has been confirmed (without the disease, so far) on three other species and in two additional states.
Named for a cold-loving white fungus typically found on the faces and wings of infected bats, White-nose Syndrome causes bats to awaken more often during hibernation and use up the stored fat reserves that are needed to get them through the winter. Infected bats often emerge too soon from hibernation and are often seen flying around in midwinter. These bats usually freeze or starve to death.
Mortality rates approaching 100 percent are reported at some sites. White-nose Syndrome threatens some of the largest hibernation caves for endangered Indiana myotis, gray myotis, and Virginia big-eared bats. Ultimately, bats across North America are at imminent risk.
How You Can Help:
- Encourage your state and federal legislators to allocate funding towards the effort to understand and fight White-nose Syndrome.
- Report unusual late-winter bat behavior (bats flying during the daytime, for example) or unexplained bat deaths to your state wildlife agency.
- Adhere to state, federal and local cave advisories and closures to help us prevent the transmission of White-nose Syndrome.
- Educate your friends and families about the benefits of bats and the White-nose Syndrome crisis.
- Follow decontamination guidelines when caving and catching bats. Never bring gear from a WNS-positive state to a WNS-negative state.
- Sign this petition and spread the word.
Thank you for caring and signing.
Information from Bat Conservation International (www.batcon.org).
