U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: Protect the Tricolored Bat under the Endangered Species Act!
- by: Julie S.
- recipient: Dan Ashe, Director U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
As a result of the worst wildlife disease outbreak that has ever occurred in North America, numerous bat species are on the road to extinction. A fungal disease called white-nose syndrome has already wiped out 98% of tricolored bats in the Northeastern United States.
Tricolored bats, as well as other bat species, are of vital importance to human society. Bats eat mosquitos and other disease-carrying insects that infect humans and other animals. Every year, bats also provide billions of dollars worth of non-toxic pest control services by eating insects that attack crops and trees.
Tricolored bats need IMMEDIATE protection to attempt to recover from the devastation caused by white-nose syndrome. Climate change, pesticides, and human activities such as logging, oil and gas extraction, and mining are posing additional threats for bat species that are already in peril.
Scientists believe that white-nose syndrome was originally introduced to North American bat caves by human travelers. People may carry the fungus on their clothing, shoes, and equipment, and spread it from cave to cave. For this reason, it is essential that human access to bat habitats be strictly limited.
The Center for Biological Diversity has identified numerous possible ways to help the tricolored bat population to recover. In addition to limiting human access to caves, research is needed to develop vaccines or anti-fungal applications for habitats that have already been infected. Strip mining, oil and gas drilling, and pipeline construction in habitats of the tricolored bat must be prohibited for this species to have a chance at survival.
Please join me today in urging the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to list the tricolored bat as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act. Tricolored bats need your voice to protect them NOW- please sign and share this petition right away!
Dear Director Ashe,
I am writing to ask that you list the tricolored bat as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act.
As you know, white-nose syndrome has already wiped out 98% of tricolored bats in the Northeastern United States.
Tricolored bats, as well as other bat species, are indispensable to human society as a result of their consumption of disease-carrying insects that infect humans as well as pests that attack crops and trees.
Tricolored bats need immediate protection to attempt to recover from the devastation caused by white-nose syndrome. Climate change, pesticides, and human activities such as logging, oil and gas extraction, and mining are posing additional threats for this species that is already in peril.
The Center for Biological Diversity states that tricolored bats are “exceptionally susceptible” to white-nose syndrome because of their long hibernation periods and tendency to select the back of caves as their habitats. Endangered species protection is necessary for the survival of this very ecologically important animal.
[Your comments here]
Thank you for taking the time to read and consider this petition.
Sincerely,
[Your name here]
By signing, you accept Care2's Terms of Service.
You can unsub at any time here.
Having problems signing this? Let us know.