It’s October, which means that bats are once again having their annual star turn, popping up on classroom bulletin boards and store windows across
The disease causing this die-off is called white-nose syndrome, and it is infecting hibernating bat populations across the Eastern states. In the four years since it was first detected, white-nose syndrome has spread quickly from a cave in upstate
Biologists in
Scientists worked quickly to identify the culprit, a newly found fungus associated with the disease, Geomyces destructans. European biologists noticed that many of their bats also had a white fungus on them but that they were not dying. Genetic comparison confirmed that the North American and European fungi were a match.
Scientists hypothesize that the fungus was accidentally introduced into the
The exact reasons are unknown. Physical differences may play a role (European bats tend to be bigger and may be better able to fight the infection). It’s also possible that European bats co-evolved with the fungus, which allowed them to develop resistance, or that environmental differences cause the fungus to behave differently in
Global travel has made the introduction of foreign plants, animals and pathogens as easy as dropping anchor or hopping on a plane. Importers, anglers, explorers and even gardeners can easily transport invasive pathogens on clothing and footwear, or in shipments of goods.
Many bats are at risk. More than half of the 45 bat species living in the
Bats have never enjoyed a great reputation in American culture. They have been portrayed as human bloodsuckers, even though vampire bats, which don’t exist in the
Worse still, bats are rarely given credit for what they excel at: insect pest control.
The loss of bat populations in the
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is leading a cooperative international effort of more than 100 agencies and organizations to address the disease and conserve North American bat species. By year’s end, state and federal agencies will have spent more than $24.5 million on the investigation, but so far a solution eludes us.
As scientists continue their inquiries into what is behind white-nose syndrome, we and the bats need help from the public.
First and foremost, it’s important not to spread the disease farther. Many caves and mines are closed to protect hibernating bats. Cave explorers should check with their state conservation agency before entering any cave or mine, and they should follow the protocols recommended by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to decontaminate clothing, footwear and equipment used in caves and mines.
People can also help by taking note of bats in their area, and reporting to a wildlife agency any new bat colonies or odd activity — such as bats flying in the day or roosting in sunlight on the outside of structures during the winter.
As you look at all the bat decorations this Halloween, spare a thought for the real bats and the crucial role they play in ecosystems across the country. They need your help.
Dan Ashe is director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. More information about bats and white-nose syndrome can be found at www.fws.gov/whitenosesyndrome. He wrote this for the Los Angeles Times. It was distributed by MCT Information Services.
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