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Michigan Bats Show No Signs of White Nose Syndrome

Michigan Department of Natural Resources

Michigan --(Ammoland.com)- A recent statewide survey of 24 known bat wintering sites in Michigan showed no sign of White Nose Syndrome (WNS), a disease caused by a fungus that kills bats by damaging their skin and causing them to burn up energy reserves prematurely during hibernation.

The Department of Natural Resources, in conjunction with Dr. Allen Kurta and Steve Smith of Eastern Michigan University, conducted extensive surveillance this winter of major sites across the northern Lower and Upper Peninsula where bats are known to hibernate.

“Our targeted efforts focused on areas where WNS may show up first — our major winter hibernation colonies — while helping us to identify new populations and critical habitat,” said Bill Scullon, DNR wildlife biologist. “We’re very pleased to have found no signs of WNS this season. Unfortunately, it may only be a matter of time until we do find it.”

Geomyces destructans, the exotic fungus that causes WNS, grows only in cold conditions, persists in the environment for long periods, and can be transported by humans. No known human health risks are associated with WNS and no other wildlife species are affected.

WNS is believed to have originated from Europe and is considered a global hitchhiker damaging native wildlife. Since the original outbreak site in eastern New York in 2006, WNS is now found in 18 states and four Canadian provinces and has killed more than one million bats from six different species. Currently WNS has been confirmed in Ontario less than 90 miles from the Michigan border.

“We have identified some very large winter colonies with some populations exceeding 50,000 bats, particularly in the western Upper Peninsula,” according to Dr. Allen Kurta. “The impact of WNS would be devastating for our bats.”

Out of the nine species of bats found in Michigan, cave dwelling bats that gather in dense groups to overwinter are at the greatest risk of WNS. This includes little brown bats, big brown bats, tri-colored bats, northern long-eared bats, and the already federally endangered Indiana bats.

“It’s unusual to have an entire suite of species be at such grave risk from a single disease pathogen,” said DNR Wildlife Veterinarian Dr. Dan O’Brien.

Bats consume large amounts of insects that cause agricultural crop loss, damage forests, and affect human health. In a recent economic assessment to quantify the importance of bats to agriculture, it was estimated that bats consume pests that save farmers equivalent to $508 million to $1.2 billion dollars per year that would otherwise be spent on applying greater amounts of chemical pesticides to Michigan crops.

“The DNR is cooperating with researchers, universities, state, federal and tribal agencies, landowners, and concerned citizens to address the risk from WNS” according to Chris Hoving, DNR endangered species coordinator. “We need the public’s help in preventing the spread of WNS and early detection efforts.”

For more information on WNS, to view the Michigan WNS response plan, and to report unusual bat observations, people can visit the DNR website on emerging diseases at www.michigan.gov/emergingdiseases.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use and enjoyment of the state’s natural and cultural resources for current and future generations. For more information, go to www.michigan.gov/dnr.

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Fish and Wildlife Service Unveils National Plan to Combat Deadly White-Nose Syndrome in Bats

White-Nose Syndrome In Bats

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Washington, DC --(Ammoland.com)- The Department of the Interior’s U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today unveiled a national management plan to address the threat posed by white-nose syndrome, which has killed more than a million hibernating bats in eastern North America since it was discovered near Albany, New York in 2006.

“Having spread to 18 states and four Canadian provinces, white-nose syndrome threatens far-reaching ecological and economic impacts,” said Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar.

“We’ve learned a lot in the past few years about the disease, but there is much more work to be done to contain it. This national plan provides a road map for federal, state, and tribal agencies and scientific researchers to follow and will facilitate sharing of resources and information to more efficiently address the threat.”

The National Plan for Assisting States, Tribes and Federal Agencies in Managing White-Nose Syndrome in Bats provides a coordinated national management strategy for investigating the cause of the syndrome and finding a means to prevent the spread of the disease. The service considered approximately 17,000 comments received on the draft plan made available to the public in October 2010.

Since the syndrome was first documented, the service has been leading a national response that now includes more than 100 state and federal agencies, tribes, organizations and individuals.

Interior Department agencies have invested more than $10.8 million in this effort since 2007. This includes more than $3 million in research funding that is supporting ongoing research projects looking for methods to control or cure the disease.

For example, researchers working with the U.S. Geological Survey have identified Geomyces destructans, a fungus new to science, as the presumed causative agent.

In addition to research, the national response has also developed decontamination protocols to reduce the transmission of the fungus, surveillance strategies, and technical white-nose syndrome diagnostic procedures.

Bat populations are at risk in some areas of the country as a result of white-nose syndrome. Ecologists and natural resource managers are concerned because of the critical role that bats play in maintaining healthy ecosystems and in agricultural systems. A recent analysis published in Science magazine’s Policy Forum showed that pest-control services provided by insect-eating bats save the U.S. agricultural industry at least $3 billion a year.

The national plan’s release coincides with the fourth annual WNS Symposium to be held in Little Rock, Arkansas, May 17-19. More than 170 of the world’s top scientific experts on bats, wildlife disease, and the WNS fungus will present the latest research and information on how to contain the spread, determine the cause, and hopefully find a cure for WNS.

State, federal and tribal land managers will also discuss the national response to WNS and implementation teams will formalize work plans as part of a more detailed implementation strategy.

The final document and additional information about WNS are available online at www.fws.gov/WhiteNoseSyndrome/.

About:
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 on our work and the people who make it happen, visit www.fws.gov.

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