North American Bat Death Toll Exceeds 6 Million From White-nose Syndrome

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Re: North American Bat Death Toll Exceeds 6 Million From White-nose Syndrome

Dighton Rock talk raises awareness of bats? possible extinction.

By Marc Larocque
Staff Writer
Posted Apr 15, 2012 @ 11:19 PM

Berkley ?

Bats are the only flying mammal on the planet, but they are dropping in droves due to a poorly understood disease that is believed to be caused by a white fungus. And the white nose syndrome, as it is called, could leave humans with many more disease-carrying mosquitoes to contend with.

That was the message delivered during a presentation by a representative from the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation at the Dighton Rock Museum on Sunday afternoon. Dozens of guests listened as DCR Interpretive Coordinator Amy Wilmot talked about the devastating toll on bats in North America caused by the white nose syndrome ? with more than 5.5 million killed by the disease since it was first discovered in 2006 ? and she also explained the negative impact this could have on humans.

?We are facing a mass extinction of bats in our lifetime, which is nearly unheard of, for a species to be taken down by disease and so quickly,? Wilmot said. ?It?s really kind of scary.?

Read more: http://www.tauntongazette.com/news/...ess-of-bats-possible-extinction#ixzz1sDHudUX8

 

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Re: North American Bat Death Toll Exceeds 6 Million From White-nose Syndrome

2:48pm
Tue April 17, 2012

As Deadly Bat Disease Inches West, U.S. Forest Service Weighs Options on Colorado Cave Closures

By Grace Hood

The U.S. Forest Service says it?s weighing options when it comes to renewing a closure of caves and abandoned mines in Colorado and four other states. The news comes as one environmental group is calling for even more closures in the West to prevent the spread of White Nose Syndrome, which has killed millions of bats on the East Coast.

When the U.S. Forest Service Rocky Mountain region closures took effect in 2010, the fungus connected to the deadly bat disease had spread as far west as Oklahoma. Almost two years later there has been no trace of it in Colorado.

But with the ban set to expire this summer, the U.S. Forest Service is reevaluating its plan. Spokesman Steve Segin says research by Forest Service scientists will play a key part in the decision making process.

?As they?re gathering the data this spring?coming out of hibernation studies?and fully evaluating their options, we?re going to try to make an informed decision this July that will protect the resource and bats from White Nose Syndrome,? he says.

Already this spring the syndrome has been detected for the first time in Missouri, Alabama and Delaware. Segin says that will also be a factor for the three options they are considering: continuing the ban, lifting it, or putting in place limited cave closures.

More...
http://www.kunc.org/post/deadly-bat...service-weighs-options-colorado-cave-closures

 

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Re: North American Bat Death Toll Exceeds 6 Million From White-nose Syndrome

For Release: Thursday, April 19, 2012

DEC Reports: 2012 Winter Bat Survey Results

The results of the winter survey of hibernating bats in New York are now available, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced today. This survey was a cooperative effort among state wildlife officials, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and numerous volunteers to monitor the effects of white-nose disease, a fungal infection that has devastated regional bat populations since it was first documented in New York in 2006.

The most encouraging observations came from surveys of the five hibernation caves in the greater Albany area where the disease was first discovered. Previous reports have suggested that little brown bat counts at these sites seem to be stabilizing in recent years. This year's surveys saw substantial increases in little brown bats at three out of five of these caves. The largest and best documented of these sites saw an increase from 1,496 little brown bats in 2011 to 2,402 this year. It is premature to conclude that population recovery is underway for this species, however, because of the small number of hibernation sites that have experienced increases and the fact that alternate explanations are plausible. Bats are highly social animals and observed increases could be the result of consolidation of individuals from other hibernation sites, for example.

"While we remain cautiously optimistic of encouraging trends for some species seen more recently, it will likely take several years before we fully know how to interpret this," said Kathleen Moser, DEC's Assistant Commissioner of Natural Resources. "DEC is assisting in national bat research and with those seeking solutions to the effects of the white nose disease. As a preventative measure we can take now, we encourage the public who enter caves recreationally, to refrain from entering hibernation sites while bats are there."

Based on this year's survey, total observed declines in population attributed to the disease for tri-colored bats have been revised upward.
Prior to the arrival of white-nose disease in 2007, a total of 2,285 tri-colored bats were counted at 37 representative hibernation sites in the state. Since that time, a total of 112 bats were observed during surveys of those same sites, suggesting a statewide decline of 95 percent for the species. Northern long-eared bats have also been affected with a 98 percent observed decline (18 individuals observed in 36 sites compared to a pre-disease total of 911 bats at the same sites). Although neither bat was considered a threatened species prior to the arrival of white-nose disease, both species are now extremely rare in New York.

No surveys were performed this year for the federal and state endangered Indiana bat. Previous surveys indicate that losses for this species have totaled 71 percent statewide (15,650 individuals remaining, down from a high of 54,689). The population status of Indiana bats in New York will be reassessed in 2013.

Records of small-footed bats, a rare species even prior to the disease, show only a relatively small decline of 13 percent. This species is difficult to count due to its secretive habits when hibernating, but focused survey efforts this season have bolstered previous observations that the impact of the disease is far less severe for small-footed's than for most other hibernating bats.

Prior to the arrival of white-nose disease, the little brown bat was the most common bat species in New York State and has been observed hibernating in more than 100 caves and mines here. Statewide losses for the species attributed to white-nose disease remain at approximately 90 percent. For more information on white nose syndrome in New York, visit the DEC website.

http://www.dec.ny.gov/press/81767.html

 

[Shiloh]

Re: North American Bat Death Toll Exceeds 6 Million From White-nose Syndrome

Source: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2012/05/03/nb-bat-population-disappearing.html

N.B.'s largest bat population wiped out
Invasive white-nose fungus continues to decimate North American bat populations
CBC News
Posted: May 3, 2012 6:19 PM ET
Last Updated: May 3, 2012 6:56 PM ET

Researchers at the New Brunswick Museum are reporting the largest bat population that hibernates in the province's caves has been wiped out by a deadly infection.

Scientists say the white-nose fungus has rapidly killed millions of bats in North America and eventually humans will pay the price.

Zoologist Don McAlpine of the New Brunswick Museum has been monitoring the bat?s cave in Albert County for the past two years.

The population of the cave once numbered 6,000 but in the winter of 2011 infection moved in, critically reducing the bats' numbers.

This spring, McAlpine said, the cave is virtually empty, making the mortality at this particular site near 100 per cent...

 

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Re: North American Bat Death Toll Exceeds 6 Million From White-nose Syndrome

Rocky Mountain cave closure sought over bat disease

By Laura Zuckerman
SALMON, Idaho | Wed May 16, 2012 11:01pm EDT

SALMON, Idaho (Reuters) - The U.S. government is seeking to close caves in national forests in the Northern Rockies to stem the spread of white-nose bat syndrome, a disease that has killed an estimated 5.5 million bats in 19 states and is spreading westward, officials said on Wednesday.

The fungus, which affects bats that hibernate in caves and mines, is mostly transmitted from bat to bat. But government scientists say it also can be transferred by caving enthusiasts who come in contact with infected bats or with the spores that linger after the syndrome has killed off a colony.

White-nose syndrome has not yet been detected in the Rocky Mountains, one reason the U.S. Forest Service is recommending ordering an emergency closure of caves as well as abandoned mines in national forests in Montana and northern Idaho and for some grasslands in the Dakotas.

"The bottom line is, it's a closure to protect our bat populations from a disease that is having a devastating effect where it has been found," said Kristi Swisher, threatened and endangered species program leader for the northern region of the Forest Service.

Under the government plan, which still must be approved by the regional head of the Forest Service and could go into effect as early as June, cavers and others could apply for a permit to explore caves if they agree to decontamination and other measures designed to protect bats.

More...
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/05/17/us-usa-bats-disease-idUSBRE84G05F20120517

 

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Re: North American Bat Death Toll Exceeds 6 Million From White-nose Syndrome

White-nose Syndrome Confirmed in Federally Endangered Gray Bats

May 29, 2012
Contacts:
Ann Froschauer
413-658-4493 cell
413-253-8356 office
ann_froschauer@fws.gov

Paul McKenzie
Endangered Species Coordinator
573-234-2132 x107
paul_mckenzie@fws.gov


<HR>The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) has confirmed the presence of white-nose syndrome in federally listed endangered gray bats (Myotis grisecens) in Hawkins and Montgomery counties in Tennessee.

White-nose syndrome (WNS) has decimated bat populations across eastern North America, with mortality rates reaching up to 100 percent at some sites. First documented in New York in 2006, the disease has spread into 19 states and four Canadian provinces. Bats with WNS may exhibit unusual behavior during cold winter months, including flying outside during the day and clustering near the entrances of caves and mines where they hibernate. Bats have been found sick and dying in unprecedented numbers near these hibernacula.

This is the first confirmation of WNS in federally listed gray bats. White-nose syndrome had previously been documented in six hibernating bat species, including the federally listed endangered Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis). Significant mortality has been documented in many colonies of hibernating Indiana bats in the Northeast and mid-Atlantic states. While no mortality has been observed in gray bats that can be linked to WNS, the confirmation that gray bats can be infected is cause for concern.

?The news that another federally endangered bat species, the gray bat, has been confirmed with white-nose syndrome is devastating for anyone who cares about bats and the benefits they provide to people,? said Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dan Ashe. ?Bats provide tremendous value to the U.S. economy as natural pest control for American farms and forests every year. Research and management of this disease remains a priority for the Service, and we will continue to work closely with our partners to understand the spread of this deadly disease and minimize its impacts to affected bat species.?

The gray bats were discovered on two separate winter surveillance trips, conducted by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) and The Nature Conservancy (TNC). Biologists observed white fungus on the muzzles, wing, and tail membranes of several bats. Specimens were collected, and the disease was diagnosed by histopathology at the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study (SCWDS) at the University of Georgia, and later confirmed the USGS National Wildlife Health Center in Madison, Wisconsin.

?The documented spread of WNS on gray bats is devastating news. This species was well on the road to recovery, and confirmation of the disease is great cause for concern. Because gray bats hibernate together in colonies that number in the hundreds of thousands, WNS could expand exponentially across the range of the species,? said Paul McKenzie, Missouri Endangered Species Coordinator for the Service. ?The confirmation of WNS in gray bats is also alarming because guano from the species is an important source of energy for many cave ecosystems and there are numerous cave-adapted species that could be adversely impacted by their loss.?

The gray bat, federally listed as an endangered species in 1976, occupies a limited geographic range in limestone karst areas of the southeastern United States. With rare exceptions, gray bats live in caves year-round. Gray bats are endangered largely because of their habit of living in very large numbers in only a few caves, making them extremely vulnerable to disturbance. Cooperative conservation measures, such as restricting human access to critical gray bat hibernation and roosting sites, have been successful in helping gray bat populations recover in many areas.

The potential impact of white-nose syndrome on gray bats is still unknown. Visible fungal growth was observed on hibernating gray bats in both sites, but no other definitive field signs of the disease or mortality events have been documented. The findings of these studies will be submitted to a peer-reviewed journal for publication, and gray bat roosts will continue to be monitored for any indication of deleterious impacts.

?We are not sure what this diagnosis is going to mean for gray bats and the spread of WNS,? said Jeremy Coleman, National WNS Coordinator for the Service. ?Increased vigilance and improved diagnostic procedures may mean that we have identified the very early stages of infection in a new species. It is also possible that gray bats have been exposed for a few years, but do not succumb to the infection. Individual bat species appear to respond differently to WNS, and only research and time will reveal where gray bats fit on the spectrum.?

The Service is leading a cooperative effort with federal and state agencies, tribes, researchers, universities and other non-government organizations to research and manage the spread of WNS. In addition to developing science-based protocols and guidance for land management agencies and other partners to minimize the spread of WNS, the Service has funded numerous research projects to support and assess management recommendations and improve our basic understanding of the dynamics of the disease.

.../
http://us.vocuspr.com/Newsroom/Quer...AssetID_EQ=130256&XSL=PressRelease&Cache=True

 

[Treyfish]

Re: North American Bat Death Toll Exceeds 6 Million From White-nose Syndrome

Social Bats Pay a Price With New Fungal Disease: Study Determines Which Bats Are Headed for Extinction

Published: 05-Jul-12 10:21AM



Study Determines Which Bats Are Headed



The impact on bat populations of a deadly fungal disease known as white-nose syndrome may depend on how gregarious the bats are during hibernation.
Species that hibernate in dense clusters even as their populations get smaller will continue to transmit the disease at a high rate, dooming them to continued decline, according to a new study led by researchers at the University of California, Santa Cruz. One gregarious species has surprised researchers, however, by changing its social behavior.


White-nose syndrome has decimated bat colonies throughout the northeast since it first appeared in New York state in 2006, and it continues to spread in the United States and Canada. In the new study, researchers analyzed population trends in six bat species in the northeast. They found that some bat populations are stabilizing at lower abundances, while others appear headed for extinction. The study, published July 3 in Ecology Letters, examined data from bat surveys between 1979 and 2010, covering a long period of population growth followed by dramatic declines caused by white-nose syndrome.


All six species were impacted by white-nose syndrome, but we have evidence that the populations of some species are beginning to stabilize, which is really good news," said Kate Langwig, a graduate student at UC Santa Cruz and first author of the paper. "This study gives us an.. :tiphat:http://www.thecambodiaherald.com/environment/detail?token=ODA5NTU0NTA1Y2Q0MDViYWIyZWI3M2VlNzVlYjg1

 

[Emily]

Re: North American Bat Death Toll Exceeds 6 Million From White-nose Syndrome

http://www.usgs.gov/blogs/features/usgs_top_story/wns-fungus-persists-in-caves-even-when-bats-are-gone/?from=title

White Nose Syndrome Fungus Persists in Caves Even when Bats are Gone
Categories: Featured
Posted on January 10, 2013 at 11:35 am
Last update 4:24 pm By: Jeff Lorch and Gail Moede Rogall

White Nose Syndrome Fungus Persists in Caves Even When Bats are Gone

Amount of soil (about 200 mg) from which Geomyces destructans was cultured. This shows the small amount of soil needed to harbor live fungus and the threat that humans might pose in moving it around from cave to cave on their gear, boots, and clothing.

The fungus that has killed millions of bats in eastern North America since 2006 can survive in the environment for long periods of time, according to new research conducted by the USGS National Wildlife Health Center and collaborating partners at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, and U.S. Forest Service...

Years...

 

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Re: North American Bat Death Toll Exceeds 6 Million From White-nose Syndrome

White-Nose Syndrome Confirmed in Park Bats

<TABLE id=cs_idLayout2 class=CS_Layout_Table cellSpacing=0 summary="" cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=CS_Layout_TR><TD id=cs_idCell2x1x1 class=CS_Layout_TD>

A northern long-eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis) from Long Cave in Mammoth Cave National Park showing evidence of white-nose syndrome.
NPS/Steven Thomas

Date: January 16, 2013
Contact: Tres Seymour, 270 758 2193

MAMMOTH CAVE, KY. - Mammoth Cave National Park Superintendent Sarah Craighead announced today that a bat from a cave in the south central Kentucky park has been confirmed with white-nose syndrome, a condition deadly to bats.

"It grieves me to make this announcement," said Craighead."A northern long-eared bat, showing symptoms of white-nose syndrome, was found in Long Cave in the park.The bat was euthanized on January 4 and sent for laboratory testing.Those tests confirmed white-nose syndrome."
Long Cave, an undeveloped cave 1.3 miles long, is the park's largest bat hibernaculum and houses endangered Indiana bats and gray bats, along with other non-threatened species.Long Cave is not connected to Mammoth Cave and has not been open to visitors for more than 80 years.

Tours of Mammoth Cave will continue.White-nose syndrome is known to be transmitted primarily from bat to bat, but spores of Geomyces destructans, the fungus that causes white-nose syndrome, may be inadvertently carried between caves by humans on clothing, footwear, and caving gear.White-nose syndrome is not known to affect people, pets, or livestock but is harmful or lethal to hibernating bats, killing 90 percent or more of some species of bats in caves where the fungus has lasted for a year or longer, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

White-nose syndrome was first detected in New York State in 2006 and has killed more than 5.5 million cave-dwelling bats in the eastern third of North America as it has spread south and west.The fungus that causes white-nose syndrome has been confirmed in 21 states; white-nose syndrome has been confirmed in 19 states. It has also been confirmed in four Canadian provinces.A map of the current spread of white-nose syndrome can be found at http://whitenosesyndrome.org/resource/wns-map-01162013

Decontamination procedures to prevent spread of the fungal spores by human beings were adopted more than two years ago as white-nose syndrome was decimating bat populations in the northeast.Mammoth Cave National Park implemented such procedures years ahead of any actual finding of white-nose syndrome in the park in an effort to delay its arrival and to be fully prepared should it appear.

Craighead said Mammoth Cave National Park is part of a multi-agency - state, federal and tribal - effort to study white-nose syndrome and take steps to prevent people from spreading it further. "About 400,000 people tour Mammoth Cave each year, providing an excellent opportunity for us to educate the public about the importance of bats and the disease. We screen all visitors before they go on a cave tour and visitors walk across decontamination mats as they exit their tours."

Mammoth Cave's White-Nose Syndrome Response Plan was written in collaboration with several National Park Service parks and offices, as well as the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.The plan addresses continued operation of cave tours and limited research with decontamination procedures to minimize the spread of white-nose syndrome into and out of park caves.

There are more than 400 caves within the park, including the 390-mile long Mammoth Cave.All park caves are closed to human access except via ranger-led tours or by research permit.Cave tours travel through 12 miles of Mammoth Cave.A portion of Mammoth Cave extends outside the park boundary and the Mammoth Cave System watershed stretches as many as 20 miles to the south and east of the park.

Park staff submitted bats for white-nose syndrome testing in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012.All those results were negative.Park staff and partners continue to look for evidence of white-nose syndrome in the park. Scientists regularly visit the entrances of bat roost-caves (hibernacula) to look for unusual bat behavior.Three solar-powered bat detectors have been placed outside hibernacula to record bat calls, and all park staff report sick or dead bats.

"Because we suspected white-nose syndrome was coming, we partnered with various researchers to gather baseline data on bat populations and bat ecology," said Craighead."The data provide important information on which bat species are present and how many, when they give birth, and when they feed.We now have five years of data collected prior to the arrival of white-nose syndrome, and will continue monitoring through the course of the disease."

Nine species of cave-dwelling bats inhabit the park, two of which are the endangered Indiana and gray bats.All nine species are at risk from white-nose syndrome.Four species of tree-dwelling bats are also found in the park; thus far, tree-dwelling bats have not been found to suffer from white-nose syndrome.

Bats play a key role in the food chain.In caves, for example, bat guano is a food source for animals that spend their entire lives underground.In forests and farm fields, bats play an important role by consuming enormous numbers of damaging insects such as beetles and moths.The number of North American bats estimated to have died from white-nose syndrome thus far had the capacity to consume up to 8,000 tons of insects per year according to the United States Geological Survey.

"The National Parks have a dual role," said Craighead, "to preserve natural treasures and to provide a way for people to enjoy them.Our response to challenges such as white-nose syndrome applies the best available science and research to find the proper balance between those roles, and a sustainable future for our parks."

For more information about white-nose syndrome, visit:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/usfwshq/8382939205/
http://www.nps.gov/maca/parkmgmt/planning.htm
http://www.nature.nps.gov/biology/wns/index.cfm
http://whitenosesyndrome.org/
http://fw.ky.gov/app/news/newsdetail.aspx?id=943
http://www.usgs.gov/newsroom/article.asp?ID=2743

www.nps.gov​

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>http://www.nps.gov/maca/parknews/nr-wnsinparkbats.htm

 

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Re: North American Bat Death Toll Exceeds 6 Million From White-nose Syndrome

1st potential case of deadly bat fungus found on P.E.I.

As many as 6.7 million North American bats killed by white-nose syndrome

CBC News
Posted: Feb 9, 2013 2:04 PM ET

A pathologist with the Atlantic Veterinary College says a bat recently found dead in Bonshaw, P.E.I., shows signs of a deadly fungus that has wiped out entire colonies of bats throughout North America.

"I would say that we're probably 99 per cent sure this is going to be the first confirmed case of bat white-nose syndrome on Prince Edward Island," said Dr. Scott McBurney, of the Atlantic Veterinary College (AVC).

More...
http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/story/2013/02/09/pei-deadly-bat-fungus-white-nose-584.html

 

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Re: North American Bat Death Toll Exceeds 6 Million From White-nose Syndrome

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
February 28, 2013

CONTACTS:
Joe Kath - IDNR
217-785-8764
Ann Froschauer - USFWS
202-734-8452

White-Nose Syndrome Confirmed in Illinois Bats

Illinois becomes 20th state in U.S. to confirm deadly disease in bats
Springfield, IL - The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) today confirmed the presence of White-Nose Syndrome (WNS), a disease fatal to several bat species, in four Illinois counties.

The University of Illinois- Illinois Natural History Survey (INHS), the United States Forest Service (USFS)-Shawnee National Forest, the University of Illinois' Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (UIVDL), and the USGS National Wildlife Health Center-Madison, WI (NWHC) assisted in the discovery of WNS which was detected in LaSalle County in north-central Illinois, Monroe County in southwestern Illinois, and Hardin and Pope Counties in extreme southern Illinois.

Little brown bats and northern long-eared bats from these counties were submitted to the UIVDL and NWHC in early-to-mid February 2013. Both of these laboratories confirmed the disease, while the fungal pathogen was isolated directly from a LaSalle County bat and a Monroe County bat at the INHS.

With confirmation of WNS in Illinois, a total of 20 states, mostly in the eastern U.S., and five Canadian Provinces have now been confirmed infected. Currently seven hibernating bat species are affected by WNS: little brown bat, big brown bat, northern long-eared bat, tri-colored bat, eastern small-footed bat, the endangered Indiana bat, and the endangered gray bat. The disease continues to spread rapidly and has the potential to infect at least half of the bat species found in North America.

White-nose syndrome is not known to affect people, pets, or livestock but is harmful or lethal to hibernating bats, killing 90 percent or more of some species of bats in caves where the fungus has lasted for a year or longer, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. WNS is known to be transmitted primarily from bat to bat, but spores of Geomyces destructans, the non-native, cold-loving fungus that causes white-nose syndrome, may be inadvertently carried between caves and abandoned mines by humans on clothing, footwear, and caving gear. The name of the disease refers to the white fungal growth often found on the noses of infected bats.

White-nose syndrome was first detected in New York State in 2006 and has killed more than 5.7 million cave-dwelling bats in the eastern third of North America as it has spread south and west
across the landscape. A map of the current spread of white-nose syndrome can be found at http://whitenosesyndrome.org/resources/map.

Research has shown that WNS-infected bats are awaking from hibernation as often as every three to four days as opposed to the normal every 10-20 days. The fungus damages the connective tissues, muscles and skin of the bats while also disrupting their physiological functions. The bats wake up dehydrated and hungry during the cold winters when there are no insects to eat.

"Although its arrival was anticipated, the documented spread of WNS into Illinois is discouraging news, mainly because there is no known way to prevent or stop this disease in its tracks,? said Joe Kath, Endangered Species Manager for the IDNR.

?Pest-control services provided by insect-eating bats in the United States likely save the U.S. agricultural industry several billion dollars a year, and yet insectivorous bats are among the most overlooked, economically important, non-domesticated animals in North America.?

?Isolating the fungal pathogen directly from a bat is the ?gold standard? for confirming this disease, and the Bat WNS team at the University of Illinois was able to do this in our laboratory,? said Andrew Miller, Mycologist at INHS.

?We are saddened by the discovery of WNS in Illinois,? said National WNS Coordinator Jeremy Coleman of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. ?We will continue to work with our partners to address this devastating disease and work towards conservation of bat species in North America.?

Because Illinois and several other Midwestern states are home to many federally endangered bat species, as well as some of the largest hibernating bat populations in the country, the complete closure of all IDNR-owned and/or managed caves within the State of Illinois was enacted in 2010. In addition, all caves within the Shawnee National Forest, managed by the USFS, have been formally closed since 2009. Both the IDNR and USFS will be evaluating these caves on an annual basis and the closure orders will remain in effect for the benefits of bat conservation until further notice. Unfortunately, research indicates that the fungus that causes WNS remains in caves where bats hibernate even when bats are not present and the IDNR remains concerned that people may inadvertently carry WNS out of the caves with them.

?The IDNR recognizes that continued cave closures will require patience from the caving community and other citizens. However, the observed devastation to bat populations and the evidence for human-assisted spread justifies that we exercise an abundance of caution in managing activities that impact caves and bats,? Kath added. ?We understand these measures will not be a cure for WNS, but they are necessary to help slow the spread of this affliction and to reduce the risks to surviving bat populations in North America.?

Bats are the only major predator of night-flying insects and play a crucial role in the environment. A single big brown bat can eat between 3,000 and 7,000 mosquitos in a night, with large populations of bats consuming thousands of tons of potentially harmful forest and agricultural pests annually. The bat conservation community is deeply concerned and involved with fighting the spread of WNS. Researchers in Illinois and across the U.S. are working diligently on finding a way to mitigate this fatal disease. Federal, state and local organizations continue to focus on conservation, containment, and education.

http://www.dnr.illinois.gov/news/Pages/White-NoseSyndromeConfirmedinIllinoisBats.aspx

 

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Re: North American Bat Death Toll Exceeds 6 Million From White-nose Syndrome

White-nose Syndrome Confirmed at Fern Cave

April 8, 2013
...
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) has confirmed the presence of white-nose syndrome at Fern Cave National Wildlife Refuge in Jackson County, Alabama. Fern Cave provides winter hibernation habitat for several bat species, and contains the largest documented wintering colony of federally listed endangered gray bats, with over one million gray bats hibernating there. The disease was confirmed in tri-colored bats that were collected at two entrances to the cave.

White-nose syndrome (WNS) has decimated bat populations across eastern North America, with mortality rates reaching up to 100 percent at some sites. First documented in New York in 2006/2007, the disease has spread into 22 states and five Canadian provinces. Bats with WNS may exhibit unusual behavior during cold winter months, including flying outside during the day and clustering near the entrances of caves and mines where they hibernate. Bats have been found sick and dying in unprecedented numbers near affected sites.

White-nose syndrome has been documented in seven hibernating bat species, including two federally listed endangered species, the Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis) and gray bat (Myotis grisescens). Significant disease-related mortality has been documented in many colonies of hibernating Indiana bats. Mortality in other species, including tri-colored bats, is also significant. While WNS is not currently known to cause mortality in gray bats, the detection of infected bats at Fern Cave is cause for concern.

?With over a million hibernating gray bats, Fern Cave is undoubtedly the single most significant hibernaculum for the species,? said Paul McKenzie, Endangered Species Coordinator for the Service. ?Although mass mortality of gray bats has not yet been confirmed from any WNS infected caves in which the species hibernates, the documentation of the disease from Fern Cave is extremely alarming and could be catastrophic. The discovery of WNS on a national wildlife refuge only highlights the continued need for coordination and collaboration with partners in addressing this devastating disease.?

The infected tri-colored bats were discovered on winter surveillance trips, conducted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and members of the National Speleological Society (NSS) and Southeastern Cave Conservancy, Inc. (SCCi). Biologists observed white fungus on the muzzles, wings, and tail membranes of several tri-colored bats, leading them to collect specimens for analysis. The disease was diagnosed by histopathology at the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study (SCWDS) at the University of Georgia.

The gray bat, federally listed as an endangered species in 1976, occupies a limited geographic range in limestone karst areas of the southeastern United States. With rare exceptions, gray bats live in caves year-round. Gray bats live in very large numbers in only a few caves, making them extremely vulnerable to disturbance. Cooperative conservation measures, such as restricting human access to gray bat roosting sites, have been successful in helping gray bat populations recover in many areas.

The potential impact of WNS on gray bats is still unknown. Although no visible fungal growth was observed on hibernating gray bats during these winter surveys, lab testing detected the presence of fungal DNA on swabs submitted from several live gray bats.
Fern Cave NWR consists of 199 acres of forested hillside underlain by a massive cave with many stalactite and stalagmite-filled rooms. The cave has five hidden entrances with four occurring on the Refuge. One entrance is owned and managed by SCCi.

Access is extremely difficult and has been described as ?a vertical and horizontal maze? by expert cavers. Horizontal sections of the cave are known to be more than 15 miles long and vertical drops of 450 feet are found within. The partnership with NSS and SCCi has been critical to monitoring the gray bat population at Fern Cave.

"Since discovering Fern Cave in 1961, members of the National Speleological Society have worked hard to protect it,? said Steve Pitts, SCCi Fern Cave Property Manager. ?For over 30 years, NSS members have also been key U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service partners in the effort to protect Fern's gray bat colony. It's a huge blow to all of us who love Fern Cave to know that WNS is now there. We hope the gray bats will survive."

The Service is leading a cooperative effort with federal and state agencies, tribes, researchers, universities and other non-government organizations to understand and manage the spread of WNS. In addition to developing science-based protocols and guidance for land management agencies and other partners to minimize the spread of WNS, the Service has funded numerous research projects to support and assess management recommendations and improve our basic understanding of the dynamics of the disease.

While bat-to-bat transmission is presumed to be the primary method the disease is spread, scientists believe that humans can inadvertently transport fungal spores on clothing, footwear, and gear that has been in infected sites. Fern Cave is not open for general public visitation; the entrances on the Refuge are closed to protect gray bats, and the entrance on SCCi managed land requires a permit. Researchers and permitted cavers entering Fern Cave take great care to reduce the risk of transporting fungus into or out of the cave, and minimize disturbance of roosting bats.

Cave explorers and researchers should check with the appropriate land manager before visiting any cave, as many caves are closed to protect hibernating bats. Decontamination of clothing, footwear and gear can reduce risk of accidental transmission of fungal spores. For the most up-to-date decontamination protocols, please visit the national WNS website, www.WhiteNoseSyndrome.org.

The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals, and commitment to public service.

For more information about white-nose syndrome, visit www.fws.gov/whitenosesyndrome. Connect with our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/usfwswns, follow our tweets at www.twitter.com/usfws_wns, and download white-nose syndrome and bat photos from our Flickr page at http://www.flickr.com/photos/usfwshq/collections/72157626455036388/.
For more information about the federally listed endangered gray bat, visit http://www.fws.gov/midwest/endangered/mammals/grbat_fc.html.
For more information about Fern Cave and the Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge complex, visit http://www.fws.gov/ferncave/.

http://us.vocuspr.com/Newsroom/Quer...AssetID_EQ=132103&XSL=PressRelease&Cache=True

 

[Pathfinder]

Re: North American Bat Death Toll Exceeds 6 Million From White-nose Syndrome

Bat-killing disease hitting Virginia harder than ever
...

Posted: Wednesday, May 1, 2013 12:00 am
BY REX SPRINGSTON Richmond Times-Dispatch
...
Scientists once hoped the disease, caused by a cold-loving fungus, might be less deadly as it moves south. In Virginia, at least, that?s not happening.

?We don?t see the disease really slowing down,? said Ann Froschauer, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
...
?There seems to be sort of a time lag,? Froschauer said. ?The Mid-Atlantic states ? Virginia, West Virginia and this general area ? are really getting hammered? in 2013.
...
?I would say that Virginia is saturated? with the disease, Reynolds said. ?We are not going to places and not finding it.?
...
This past winter, in 13 Virginia caves that have been infested by white-nose syndrome for at least three years, 98.8 percent of the little brown bats had died, state figures show.

The little brown was once Virginia?s most common bat by far. Now, Reynolds said, ?I would say it?s leaning toward being one of the more rare bats in the state.?
...
It?s possible the disease will kill most of Virginia?s cave-dwelling bats, and it may have already, Reynolds said.
...

Full text:
http://www.timesdispatch.com/news/s...cle_890ae3b7-9956-5458-a054-2e35176136c5.html

 

[Emily]

Re: North American Bat Death Toll Exceeds 6 Million From White-nose Syndrome


Colorado Receives Funding to Research Deadly Bat Malady

By Justine Hausheer July 10, 2013 2:00 PM
[snip]
Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) will use the $41,500 grant to prepare for the inevitable spread of WNS to western states. Colorado is home to 18 species of bat, 14 of which hibernate in-state and might be vulnerable to the disease. Their first goal is to locate hibernation sites so scientists can monitor them for signs of WNS. Unlike eastern bats, Colorado bats don?t hibernate in massive colonies. Instead, they spread out into little groups hidden in tiny cracks and crevices in the mountains. This might slow the spread of WNS between bats, but it also makes finding and monitoring our bats very difficult...

 

[Shiloh]

Re: North American Bat Death Toll Exceeds 6 Million From White-nose Syndrome

Source: http://www.starjournalnow.com/Conte...-in-confirming-white-nose-syndrome/-3/37/7198


Deadly bat disease detected in single Wisconsin site; state joins 23 others in confirming white-nose syndrome
Thursday, April 10, 2014 9:28 AM

White-nose syndrome, a bat disease that has spread to 23 states and killed up to 5 million bats since 2006, has been confirmed in Wisconsin, state natural resources officials announced today.

Results from visual inspection and genetic and tissue tests completed earlier this month showed that 2 percent of bats in a single mine in southwestern Wisconsin had the disease, named for the characteristic white fuzz on their nose, wings and tails, according to Erin Crain, who leads the Department of Natural Resources Natural Heritage Conservation Program.

"The discovery is not a surprise, but it's a sad day for Wisconsin. We face the loss of multiple bat species and the benefits they provide to our ecosystems and our people," Crain says...

 

[Shiloh]

Re: North American Bat Death Toll Exceeds 6 Million From White-nose Syndrome

Source: http://americanlivewire.com/2014-04...-killed-millions-north-america-spreading-u-s/

Fungal Disease Fatal To Bats Killed Millions In North America, Spreading In U.S.
Posted by: Melissa Jackson 2 hours ago

A fungal disease that is fatal to bats has killed millions of bats in North America and is spreading in the United States. It has recently been detected in Michigan for the first time.

Wildlife officials reported the findings and the state Department of Natural Resources said Thursday that laboratory test confirmed it was the fungal disease that killed 90 percent of Michigan?s bat species. It caused white nose syndrome in Alpena, Dickinson and Mackinac counties...

 

[Emily]

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/scie...rome-confirmed-in-Washington-bats-7220539.php

Devastating white-nose syndrome confirmed in Washington bat, first on West Coast By JAKE ELLISON, SEATTLEPI.COM STAFF
[h=5]Updated 9:50 pm, Thursday, March 31, 2016[/h] Spelling serious trouble for bats and all of us who enjoy evenings outdoors without swarms of disease-laden bugs, white-nose syndrome has been confirmed in a bat found in North Bend, Wash., according to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.
The sick bat was a little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus). Hikers found the sick bat on March 11 and took it to authorities. The bat died two days later and subsequent tests confirmed it had white-nose syndrome.

It's the first confirmed case of the deadly bat disease in western North America, and given how the disease has spread in the eastern part of the US. since its discovery in 2006, it could devastate bat populations here. In a decade, the syndrome killed more than six million beneficial insect-eating bats in North America, the department said...

http://www.usgs.gov/newsroom/article.asp?ID=4496&from=rss_home

Bat with white-nose syndrome confirmed in Washington state
Released: 3/31/2016 2:00:00 PM
U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey
OLYMPIA, Wash. ? White-nose syndrome (WNS) has been confirmed in a little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus) found near North Bend ? the first recorded occurrence of this devastating bat disease in western North America. The presence of this disease was verified by the U.S. Geological Survey?s National Wildlife Health Center.
WNS has spread quickly among bats in other affected areas, killing more than six million beneficial insect-eating bats in North America since it was first documented nearly a decade ago.
WNS is not known to pose a threat to humans, pets, livestock or other wildlife.
On March 11, hikers found the sick bat about 30 miles east of Seattle near North Bend, and took it to Progressive Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) for care. The bat died two days later, and had visible symptoms of a skin infection common in bats with WNS.
PAWS then submitted the bat for testing to the USGS National Wildlife Health Center, which confirmed through fungal culture, molecular and pathology analyses that it had WNS.
?We are extremely concerned about the confirmation of WNS in Washington state, about 1,300 miles from the previous westernmost detection of the fungus that causes the disease,? said U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dan Ashe. ?Bats are a crucial part of our ecology and provide essential pest control for our farmers, foresters and city residents, so it is important that we stay focused on stopping the spread of this fungus. People can help by following decontamination guidance to reduce the risk of accidentally transporting the fungus.?
First seen in North America in the winter of 2006/2007 in eastern New York, WNS has now spread to 28 states and five Canadian provinces. USGS microbiologist David Blehert first identified the unknown fungus, Pseudogymnoascus destructans, which causes the disease. WNS is named for the fuzzy white fungal growth that is sometimes observed on the muzzles of infected bats. The fungus invades hibernating bats? skin and causes damage, especially to delicate wing tissue, and physiologic imbalances that can lead to disturbed hibernation, depleted fat reserves, dehydration and death.
?This finding in a far-western location is unfortunately indicative of the challenges we face with the unpredictability of WNS,? said Suzette Kimball, director of the USGS. "This underscores the critical importance of our work to develop tools for early detection and rapid response to potentially devastating wildlife diseases."
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service leads the national WNS response effort, working with state and federal partners to respond to the disease. The Service?s National White-nose Syndrome Coordinator Jeremy Coleman said the first step will be to conduct surveillance near where the bat was found to determine the extent of WNS in the area. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is responsible for bat management and conservation in Washington and will coordinate surveillance and response efforts.
WDFW veterinarian Katie Haman said the disease is transmitted primarily from bat to bat, although people can carry fungal spores on their clothing, shoes or caving gear.
?The bat found near North Bend most likely had been roused from hibernation and was attempting to feed at a time of very low insect availability,? Haman said. ?At this point we don?t know where the infected bat may have spent the winter, but it seems likely that it was somewhere in the central Cascades.?
Haman said Washington state has 15 species of bats that benefit humans by consuming large quantities of insects that can impact forest health and commercial crops.
WDFW advises against handling animals that appear sick or are found dead. If you find dead bats or notice bats exhibiting unusual behavior such as flying outside during the day or during freezing weather, please report your observation online at http://wdfw.wa.gov/conservation/health/wns or contact the WDFW Wildlife Health Hotline at (800) 606-8768.
To learn more about WNS and access the most updated decontamination protocols and cave access advisories, visit www.whitenosesyndrome.org.

 

[Pathfinder]

Discovery of bat disease in Washington state alarms Alaska biologists

Yereth RosenAlaska Dispatch News
April 1, 2016
...
White-nose syndrome, a fungus-related disease that has spread westward after wiping out millions of bats in the U.S. Northeast and in eastern Canada, is now in Washington state ? and could jump to Alaska, biologists fear.

The spread of white-nose syndrome to the West Coast, over the Great Plains and Rocky Mountains, is much faster than expected

?This is a game-changer,? said Link Olson, curator of mammals at the University of Alaska Museum in Fairbanks. ?Once it?s on the West Coast, there are really no significant barriers preventing it from coming up from Washington.?

Up to now, the westernmost documentation of the disease was in the Midwest, meaning it has made a 1,300-mile leap across the continent, said Karen Blejwas, a wildlife biologist and bat specialist with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.

?It?s really unexpected, because this is by far the largest jump the disease has ever made since it was discovered in 2006,? she said.

More...
https://www.adn.com/article/20160401/discovery-bat-disease-washington-state-alarms-alaska-biologists

 

[Gert van der Hoek]

[FONT=&quot]New [/FONT]white-nose syndrome [FONT=&quot]spread map shows South Dakota as the 33rd state where the disease of hibernating bats has been confirmed.

[/FONT]