White Nose Syndrome News

• Newly Identified Fungus Implicated in White-Nose Syndrome in Bats: Mysterious Bat Disease Decimates Colonies in the Northeast published on Oct 30, 2008
  A previously undescribed, cold-loving fungus has been linked to white-nose syndrome, a condition associated with the deaths of over 100,000 hibernating bats in the northeastern United States. The findings are published in this week's issue of Science.
• Fewer bats this Halloween: Scientists may be closing in on why published on Oct 30, 2008
  A baffling illness has wiped out more than 75 percent of bat populations in the abandoned mines and ice-encased caves where they hibernate.Now, researchers are reporting today in the online edition of the journal Science that they think they are closing in on a cause: A cold-loving soil fungus that seems to thrive on several species of hibernating bats during the winter months.
• Researchers identify fungus linked to bat die-off published on Oct 30, 2008
  Researchers have identified the fungus found on bats with "white-nose syndrome," a step toward determining why populations across the Northeast are being decimated as they hibernate.
• Bat syndrome's telltale white nose-mold new to science published on Oct 30, 2008
  A mold that gives hibernating bats fuzzy, white noses turns out to be a previously unknown form of cold-loving fungus. And it may be a cold-blooded killer too.A novel form of a Geomyces fungus ranks as a possible cause of the deadly white-nose syndrome recently described in New England bats, David Blehert of the U.S. Geological Surveys National Wildlife Health Center in Madison, Wisc., and his colleagues report online October 30 in Science.
• Mysterious disease still killing bats published on Jun 16, 2008
  Between 80 and 90 other scientists, wildlife specialists and conservationists in Albany, N.Y., last week to discuss the mysterious syndrome behind these die-offs, which have escalated from just two incidents in caves in New York a year ago to documented mortalities at caves and mines in New York, Vermont, Massachusetts and Connecticut, with suspected sites in Pennsylvania.
• Scientists, cavers gather in NY to brainstorm on bats published on Jun 11, 2008
  Researchers, cavers and others interested in bats traveled to Albany from across the U.S. and Canada for a three-day brainstorming session on the mysterious, mass die-off of bats in the Northeast.
• Dead bats tested here for mysterious syndrome published on May 13, 2008
  Report about how bats are being tested at NWHC to figure out the reasons for the deaths
• Investigation continues into cause of bats deaths published on May 10, 2008
  Interview with David Blehert and Ward Stone about what's known so far about the bat die-offs.
• Don't expect more mosquitoes published on May 06, 2008
  Mosquito season is arriving after a disastrous winter for bats, a natural predator to the disease-carrying pests, but officials say they don't expect the reduction in bat population to create a noticeable increase in mosquitoes.
• Listening In on a Bat Cave published on May 06, 2008
  Jim Metzner has been training scientists to make audio recordings of their field research. Biologists from New York's Ulster County go underground as they try to work out what is killing the region's bats.
• Pendleton bats sent to lab were not found dead, DNR says published on Apr 30, 2008
  April 30, 2008Pendleton bats sent to lab were not found dead, DNR saysTwo bats from a Pendleton County cave now being examined by a wildlife disease laboratory in Wisconsin were bearing a small amount of what appeared to be a white fungus, but did not appear to be exhibiting symptoms of white-nose syndrome - a disease that has killed tens of thousands of hibernating bats in the northeast.By Rick SteelhammerStaff writerTwo bats from a Pendleton County cave now being examined by a wildlife disease laboratory in Wisconsin were bearing a small amount of what appeared to be a white fungus, but did not appear to be exhibiting symptoms of white-nose syndrome - a disease that has killed tens of thousands of hibernating bats in the northeast.The bats were collected at Trout Cave in early April.No dead bats were found at the cave, as previously reported, but two live bats had a very small amount of what appeared to be a fungus on them - one on the ear and the other on its wrist, according to Craig Stihler, the Division of Natural Resources' endangered species coordinator. "We debated as to whether or not we should collect these bats, but decided we needed to have them looked at by one of the labs working on white-nose syndrome," Stihler said. After being euthanized, "they were sent to the National Wildlife Health Center in Madison, Wisconsin."While the bats had little fat remaining on their bodies, that condition is not unusual for bats at the end of their hibernation period. The weights of the bats were within the range normally observed at this time of year."Unfortunately, no one knows the cause of white-nose syndrome, so the lab can't test for it, but they are going to examine the bats further," Stihler said."I would be very concerned if we found a number of dead bats at the cave, but we did not find any dead bats. We did find a couple bats with a small amount of what appeared to be a fungus, but it did not look like white nose and it may be normal for bats hibernating in a moist cave to occasionally get fungus on them. Before this problem arose, we didn't examine bats closely during our surveys and would not have noticed a small amount of fungus."White-nose syndrome has decimated hibernating bat colonies in New York, Vermont, Massachusetts and Connecticut, and it is suspected of having spread to caves in Pennsylvania, including areas near the West Virginia border. Winter surveys have shown that in eight of the affected New York caves, mortality ranged from 80 percent to 100 percent since the syndrome was documented at each site.While it can't be said for a certainty that white-nose syndrome has not reached West Virginia, "so far, we have not seen anything in West Virginia that alarms me, and I hope it remains that way," Stihler said.To contact staff writer Rick Steelhammer use e-mail or call 348-5169.
• Mysterious fungus found in Pennsylvania bat caves published on Apr 30, 2008
  A mysterious fungus that might have killed tens of thousands of bats throughout the Northeast could have spread into Pennsylvania this month.
• On a freefall toward extinction published on Apr 28, 2008
  Bats have been dying by the thousands recently in the Northeastern United States. No one knows why, and it may be months, perhaps years, before the cause is determined. The perplexing bat affliction is called white-nose syndrome. Bat biologists have called it the "gravest threat to bats ever known."
• Bat disease fear prompts closing of popular Uniontown cave published on Apr 28, 2008
  Concern that a mysterious disease responsible for killing thousands of bats in the Northeast has prompted state officials to close a popular Fayette County cave.
• NPR Science Friday: Bat Die-off Mystery published on Apr 18, 2008
  Wildlife experts are trying to determine what's causing hibernating bats in the Northeast to die en masse. The condition has been dubbed 'white-nose syndrome,' after a white fungus seen on bats' noses -- but scientists aren't sure if the fungus is causing the deaths, or is just a symptom indicating the presence of some other disease. So far, white-nose syndrome has been identified in bat caves in New York, southwest Vermont, northwest Connecticut and western Massachusetts. Tens of thousands of bats have died. Little brown bats, Indiana bats, northern long-eared, eastern pipistrelle, small-footed and other bat species have all been affected.Some experts are likening the situation to that of the unexplained declines in honeybee populations due to 'colony collapse disorder.' Bat researchers are racing to explain the deaths -- and keep the disease from spreading -- but they're hampered by few clues and a lack of funds for the type of fast-paced interdisciplinary research needed. We'll talk with scientists studying the bat White Nose Syndrome. Teachers, find more information about using Science Friday as a classroom resource in the Kids' Connection.GuestsElizabeth BucklesAssistant Professor of PathologyCollege of Veterinary MedicineCornell UniversityIthaca, New YorkThomas H. KunzProfessor of BiologyDirector, Center for Ecology and Conservation BiologyBoston UniversityBoston, Massachusetts
• Official keep eye out for ill bats published on Apr 14, 2008
  Mysterious disease in Northeast could have effects in Md.A mysterious ailment, discovered in New York last year and spreading ever since, has killed thousands of bats in several Northeast states.Hoping to keep the phenomenon, dubbed white nose syndrome, from spreading to Maryland, wildlife officials here are taking no chances.They're asking everyone who explores caves to protect themselves - and any bats they encounter - by following new federal guidelines that recommend thoroughly washing any equipment they use in caves.