Understanding White-Nose Syndrome
U.S. Bat populations contine to decline as deadly fungus spreads. WNS is a new disease that is causing the most precipitous decline of North American wildlife in the past century. It has killed more than one million bats in less than four years and threatens to devastate bat populations across the continent.
According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, February of 2006 was when White-Nose Syndrome (WNS) was first observed by a caver in a single cave about 40 miles west of Albany, New York. While photographing bats, the caver noticed an “unusual white substance“ covering the muzzles of some of the bats, while several others were dead on the ground. The next winter, White-Nose Syndrome was officially identified by the New York Department of Environmental Conservation biologists, sparking a mission to understand the fungus, how it kills bats, and if perhaps there is anything that can be done to stop the spread of the deadly fungus and the devastation to bat populations.
WNS is identified as a cold-loving white fungus typically found on the faces, ears, and wings of infected bats, disrupting their hibernating cycle. These bats exhibit uncharacteristic behaviors such as:
•Flying around during the day
•Flying during cold winter weather
•Hibernating in cold places of a cave
These behaviors, coupled with a compromised immune system, lead to reduced fat stores and ultimately starvation. Bats sleep by day and hibernate through winter for survival as their only food source (insects) cannot be found during these times. White-Nose Syndrome continues to spread rapidly throughout the eastern United States.
Last winter, it spread 450 miles in a single winter and is now documented in 13 U.S. states and two Canadian provinces (Ontario and Quebec). Biologists fear the fungus will reach the largest colonies of endangered Indiana, Gray, Virginia, and Ozark big-eared bats this winter.
However, as of June 2010, WNS has not been found in Indiana or the neighboring states. While this is good news, there is no time to celebrate. There is still cause for concern as winter approaches, creating the ideal conditions for the fungus to spread. Bat-to-bat transmission is considered to be the primary form of transmission.
Laboratory experiments conducted by The United States Geological Survey's National Wildlife Health Center observed and documented the form of transmission. Additionally, they found the fungus “in cave sediments collected from hibernation sites within the WNS-infected region of the U.S., indicating that environmental factors may play a role in the WNS transmission cycle.“
Therefore, cavers are adhering to the decontamination procedure outlined by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service following every cave visit and consider all bat hibernacula, or caves with large quantities of bats, closed.
By staying informed and working together, we will begin to gain a better understand White-Nose Syndrome. Visit the links below to get the most current news on WNS: