Fungus And The Future Of Bats

Pennsylvania Game Commission

HARRISBURG, PA --(Ammoland.com)- Cave bats have long been some of North America’s most successful species. Then, in 2006, White-Nosed Syndrome (WNS) surfaced in Howe’s Cave near Albany, New York, and the future of North America’s cave bats soon became anything but certain.

The disease has since spread north into Canada, south to North Carolina and west to Oklahoma. This month, bats will be returning to their hibernation quarters in mines and caves and their seasonal battle for survival will resume. WNS strikes bats as they overwinter underground.

More than a million cave bats have died from the fungus Geomyces destructans (Gd) that causes WNS over the past five years. The pervasive Gd strikes while bats are in communal hibernation, often clustered like sardines in a tin to conserve energy. When this fungus invades hibernacula, it has been profoundly damaging to cave bats, which, in Pennsylvania, includes the little brown bat, big brown bat, eastern pipistrelle, Indiana bat, small-footed bat and northern long-eared bat.

Gd is a cold-loving fungus that thrives on the bodies of hibernating bats in caves and mines. Once it appears in these subterranean areas, it stays. That’s bad news for the bats that hibernate in these chambers. The very caves and mines that for centuries sheltered bats from the elements and pestilence now harbor the world’s preeminent cave bat-killing pathogen, Gd.

“If you were pondering a perfect storm on cave bats, the nastiest catalysts would be organisms that could exist and strike in the dark, cold and wet environments where bats hibernate,” explained Greg Turner, Game Commission biologist. “Their vulnerability then is unparalleled, because their immune system is shut down to conserve energy. Geomyces destrutans has found this opening. Now it’s up to bats to find a defense.”

In Pennsylvania, bats spend six months annually in hibernation, riding out winter and living off a finite supply of energy generated from consuming massive quantities of flying insects. Gd irritates the deep-sleeping bats, forcing them out of their hibernation stupor, which requires increased energy consumption from a reserve that barely sustains them through winter. Death often follows, regardless of whether the bat stays put or flies out over the winter landscape looking for food that isn’t there.

Although some hibernacula have been scorched by Gd and remain absent of all bat life, there have been some survivors and residents at some contaminated caves and mines in Pennsylvania and New York for several years. It’s a finding that gives hope; a potential sign of resistance. But it’s also early in this fungal invasion, so observations are simply that, something noted, something more to be monitored.

Prior to the Gd outbreak, North America’s two most notable wildlife-related fungal invasions were the ongoing American chestnut blight and amphibian population decline, which is caused by Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), and commonly called Chytrid fungus. Neither of these crippling fungi, nor Gd, belongs in North America. They all found their way here over the past century hitchhiking either on products or people. And, unfortunately, they’re here to stay.

The chestnut blight, caused by the fungus Cryphonectria parasitica, was first noted at the Bronx Zoo in 1904. It is believed to have sprung from a shipment of Asian chestnut trees. At the time, American chestnut trees – attaining heights up to 100 feet – dominated forests, particularly in the Appalachians, from Massachusetts to Alabama. The blight was in Pennsylvania by 1911, when the state created the Commission for the Investigation and Control of the Chestnut Tree Blight Disease in Pennsylvania. By the start of World War II, American chestnuts were mostly gone from eastern forests. What remained were stunted remnants of a species that once was as plentiful in Pennsylvania as oaks are today.

What’s interesting about the chestnut blight is that it didn’t chase the American chestnut into extinction. Rather, it crippled the species, essentially preventing it from maturing through infestations that kill every part of a chestnut tree above the initial area of infection. Root systems of American chestnuts continue to push new growth in our forests only to be snuffed out by the blight, which remains in many areas and is spread by precipitation, flooding and wildlife. There also are some resilient native American chestnut trees that have survived the blight.

The bad news about exotic wildlife pathogens is that when they emerge they rarely can be extricated. Once the chestnut blight got to North America, it made itself right at home. Still, the blight couldn’t snuff out the American chestnut completely, which holds promise.

“Where there’s life, there is hope,” noted Dave Gustafson, Game Commission Forestry Division chief. “To this day, work continues, particularly by The American Chestnut Foundation, to perfect a blight-resistant tree – crossbred from the few still standing indigenous trees – that will augment and hopefully restore the American chestnut’s presence in the eastern United States. It’s an attempt to accelerate nature’s immunity-building process. For the American chestnut’s sake, and the benefit of wildlife, let’s hope it works. Otherwise it could take centuries for the American chestnut to build immunity and reclaim its once commanding presence in our forests.”

To date, even in New York, Gd has not eliminated cave bats in some their historic hibernacula. Some bats hang on, just like the American chestnut. The same is true for some amphibians facing Bd. Also a fungal pathogen, Bd has been implicated in the declines and extinctions of certain species of amphibians in cooler or higher elevation areas of Australia, Costa Rica, Brazil, the United States and many other counties over the past couple decades. Most vulnerable are those species that have little ability to adapt to changing conditions and are found over smaller geographic ranges that harbor ideal conditions for Bd.

Bd has been found in red-spotted newts and green frogs at several sites in northwestern Pennsylvania, including on the Game Commission’s State Game Lands 69 and 277 in Crawford County. The research findings were published in 2010 in the Herpetological Review. The work was performed by Maya L. Groner and Rick A. Relyea through the University of Pittsburgh.

Researchers have been studying Bd – first identified in 1993 – for some time now, and have shed some light on how the fungus fuels the disease Chytridiomycosis, which is what kills amphibians. Some amphibians are resistant to Bd. It spreads through zoospores that disperse in water, but also can hitchhike on amphibians sold in the pet trade. It is believed by many to have originated in Africa.

Bd seems to be less debilitating to hosts when temperatures are above 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Hosts harboring the affliction in hotter climes don’t seem to be dying from it, while their same-species counterparts at cooler, higher elevations are. Similar evidence is emerging in field research of bat populations contracting WNS in states south of Pennsylvania and in Europe. Maybe it’s possible that some bat populations – or possibly their hibernacula – are more resistant. Gd thrives in temperatures under 70 degrees Fahrenheit.

The European strain of Geomyces destructans has been confirmed in eight species of cave bats. But the mortality rates of bats with Gd in Europe are almost inconsequential; less than two percent were dying, according to recent research. It is hypothesized Gd has been in Europe for thousands of years, and bats there have developed an immunity to it over time.

The situation, however, is different on our side of the Atlantic, where Gd is unchallenged and has been increasing its range in leaps and bounds.

Five years of following WNS has helped wildlife managers identify and better understand what Gd is and what potential limitations it may have. The future for North American bats seems to be brighter as a result of this important work and the track record of other foreign fungi that have invaded our outdoors. It is a perception bolstered by our increased understanding of Gd and the sometimes surprising resiliency of nature, even when natural order has been disrupted by unnatural events. Remember how bad things were for bald eagles and American bison?

That some amphibians are immune to Bd and others can mount a defense to it in warmer climates suggests its pathogenicity may not be as crushing as presumed when it first was identified. Field research now seems to be showing some signs that Gd also may not be the inescapable epidemiological juggernaut it was first expected to be. Ultimately, time and the bats will sort out whether bats persevere. But, the battle North American bats must fight with Gd still is likely closer to its beginning than its end.

“As the populations of affected bat species decline, the distribution of survivors will likely shrink to core populations and habitats, creating new management challenges in identification, protection and potential recovery of survivors and habitats,” noted Cal Butchkoski, Game Commission biologist. “For our bats, since no treatments are on the horizon, we must fall back to conservative management. As colonies decline, no number will be too small to protect and manage.”

Fungal outbreaks in our ever-increasing global society clearly lay bare the harm associated with releasing or transporting – whether intentionally or unintentionally – invasive species. It is why all Pennsylvanians must be vigilant about organisms hitchhiking on their equipment and gear and illegal releases of invasive species. Much good can come from our increased concern and attention.

Pennsylvania Game Commission

HARRISBURG, PA --(Ammoland.com)- Pennsylvania Game Commission biologists are seeking assistance from residents in a regional monitoring effort to collect bat maternity colony data this summer.

This monitoring is especially important due to the moralities in bat populations throughout the northeastern United States, including Pennsylvania, being caused by White-Nose Syndrome (WNS).

“WNS primarily kills during the winter, but the true impact of WNS on bat populations cannot be determined using estimates from winter hibernacula alone,” said Calvin Butchkoski, Game Commission wildlife biologist.

“Pennsylvanians can help us more fully gauge the impact of WNS on the landscape by hosting a bat count this summer. We are especially urging people who have ever conducted a bat count for the Game Commission in the past to redo a count this year.”

To obtain applications and information on how to participate, visit the Game Commission’s website (www.pgc.state.pa.us) and click on “Wildlife” in the menu bar at the top of the homepage, scroll down and choose “Pennsylvania Bats” in the Mammal section, and then click on “Appalachian Bat Count” in the Reference listing. Forms on the website guide interested participants through the steps of timing, conducting a survey and submitting their findings to the Game Commission. Scout groups, 4-H clubs, local environmental organizations, and individual homeowners can all participate in this important effort.

“Pennsylvania’s two most common bat species, the little brown bat and the big brown bat, use buildings as their summer roosts,” Butchkoski said. “Abandoned houses, barns, church steeples – and even currently-occupied structures – can provide a summer home to female bats and their young.

“Monitoring these ‘maternity colonies’ can give biologists a good idea of how bat populations in an area are doing from year to year. With the occurrence of WNS in Pennsylvania this year, monitoring these colonies is more important than ever.”

Butchkoski noted that the fieldwork isn’t difficult to do, and Pennsylvanians can play a huge role in helping the Game Commission get a better understanding of what is happening to bats this summer.

“We’re looking for some help, and we hope you’ll consider becoming part of the Appalachian Bat Count monitoring team,” Butchkoski said. “It’s a chance to make a difference for bats and to get involved in the fight against WNS. Please consider lending a hand. Bats need you more than ever.”

A multi-state State Wildlife Grant was awarded and is being administered by the Game Commission to investigate and respond to WNS. As part of this project, the Appalachian Bat Count contributes to the nationwide effort to collect data during summer months through maternity colony monitoring, wing assessments and acoustic sampling.

For more information on WNS, visit the Game Commission’s website (www.pgc.state.pa.us) and click on “Wildlife” in the menu bar at the top of the homepage, scroll down and choose “White-Nose Syndrome” in the Wildlife Disease section. To report observations of sick or multiple dead bats, go to the agency’s website (www.pgc.state.pa.us) and click on “Report a Sick Bat” in the “Quick Clicks” box in the right-hand column of the homepage.

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.

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.

Wisconsin DNR

MADISON, WI --(Ammoland.com)- Three rule proposals to help protect Wisconsin cave bats from the fatal white-nose syndrome disease are available for public review and comment and will be the subject public hearings across the state later this month.

The proposed rules would list four cave bat species as threatened species, list the white-nose syndrome fungus as a prohibited invasive species, and allow monitoring of caves and mines and other preventive measures to limit the potential spread of white-nose syndrome.

Wisconsin has the largest concentration of bats in the upper Midwest. The most common Wisconsin bat – the little brown – is particularly susceptible to the disease and faces extinction.

White-nose syndrome is a white fungus that grows on nose, ears, muzzles and wings of bats. The disease is transmitted to bats from a cave that has been infected, likely from a human introduction on shoes or equipment. It kills up to 90 to 100 percent of bats in infected caves or mines used as hibernacula.

In just three years, the disease has spread across the eastern U.S. and Canada. It is now about 200 to 300 miles from Wisconsin’s borders, well within the 280-mile migrating range of bats.

“We need to act quickly to meet this threat. And we want everyone who is interested in the health of Wisconsin bats and the proposed rules to provide comments,” said Laurie Osterndorf, Administrator for DNR’s Land Division.

The public hearings will be on both emergency and permanent rule proposals to list the little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus), big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus), northern long-eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis), and eastern pipistrelle (Perimyotis subflavus) as threatened species under § NR 27.03(3), Wis. Adm. Code and to list the white-nose syndrome fungus, (Geomyces destructans) as a prohibited invasive species in § NR 40.04(2), Wis. Adm. Code. The third proposed rule adds provisions to NR 40.04 and 40.07 relating to early detection and prevention of the spread of the disease due to human activities, including the decontamination of clothes and equipment that have been used in mines or caves, and limited access of bats or people to caves or mines. Information on the decontamination protocols is available on the Saving Wisconsin Bats page of the DNR website.

The State Natural Resources Board at its On October 27 meeting adopted each of the three rules as the emergency orders, meaning that the provisions generally go into effect while the permanent rule is being developed. The board did amend the rule on decontamination requirements and the authority to restrict access to caves or mines to either humans or bats as applied to commercial caves or mines to begin 45 days after the effective date of the rule order.

The department will hold hearings on the bat rules via video conference on November 29 beginning at 11 a.m. with participation available at the locations listed below.

• Green Bay – Green Bay State Office Building, Room 618, 200 North Jefferson St.
• Madison – The Pyle Center, Room 315, 702 Langdon St.
• Eau Claire – Division of State Facilities, Eau Claire State Office Building, Room 139, 718 W Clairemont Ave.
• Wausau – UW Marathon County, Room 218, 518 S. 7th Ave.

The proposed rules and fiscal estimates may be reviewed and comments electronically submitted through the Wisconsin Administrative Rules website (exit DNR). Written comments on the proposed rule may be submitted via U.S. mail through 4 p.m. on November 29. to Stacy Rowe, DNR Bureau of Endangered Resources, PO Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707 or by email to stacy.rowe@wisconsin.gov.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Washington, DC --(Ammoland.com)- White-nose syndrome (WNS) has killed more than a million bats in the Northeast and has spread to 11 or more states in less than four years since its discovery near Albany, New York.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, in collaboration with other federal and state agencies, and tribal governments, is proposing a coordinated national management plan to address this critical environmental issue. The proposed plan is available for review and comment beginning October 28, 2010.

The proposed plan, a joint federal-state effort, provides a framework for WNS investigation and response. A subsequent implementation plan will identify specific actions, the entities responsible for implementation of each action, and estimated costs.

“More than 50 agencies, organizations and individuals are working in concert on the white-nose syndrome response,” said WNS National Coordinator Jeremy Coleman, Ph.D., of the Service.

“The national management plan will help guide our use of limited resources wisely and efficiently in addressing this urgent threat to bats and to our environment.”

The Service will accept public comments on the proposed plan through December 26, 2010, to gather additional scientific and commercial information for consideration before the plan becomes final.

Little brown bat with white-nose syndrome, New York Credit: Al Hicks, NY Dept. of Environmental Conservation

The document and additional information about WNS are available online at http://www.fws.gov/WhiteNoseSyndrome/. Comments may be submitted by e-mail to WhiteNoseBats@fws.gov, by mail to WNS National Coordinator, New York Field Office, 3817 Luker Road, Cortland, NY 13045-9348, or by fax to 607-753-9699.

In addition to its online availability, the proposed plan may be viewed during weekday business hours by appointment at the New York Field Office by calling 607-753-9334. Individuals who are deaf or hard-of-hearing may call the Federal Relay Service at 800-877-8339.

The proposed plan includes an overall strategy for investigating the cause of WNS and finding a way to manage it. The plan identifies key actions and the roles of federal and state agencies and other entities in addressing WNS nationally. It identifies seven focus areas of responsibility — communications, scientific and technical information dissemination, diagnostics, disease management, research coordination, disease surveillance, and conservation and recovery of affected species.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service works 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 a 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 our work and the people who make it happen, visit http://www.fws.gov.

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.

White-Nose Syndrome In Bats

Pennsylvania Game Commission

HARRISBURG, PA --(Ammoland.com)- State wildlife agencies in the Northeast, including the Pennsylvania Game Commission, are ratcheting up their response to White Nose Syndrome as they enter their fourth year of researching this disorder in cave bat populations with an aim to better understand, and hopefully slow, its spread to other states.

Working with 10 other wildlife agencies, the Game Commission announced that its interstate response team is broadening the coalition of partners to include researchers at Pennsylvania’s Bucknell University, Northern Kentucky University and Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University in Massachusetts

In essence, these researchers have been involved in the WNS response for the past few years, particularly Dr. DeeAnn Reeder at Bucknell. All have made significant contributions to the effort to shed light on how WNS affects bats. That involvement made these universities perfect partners in the ongoing interstate probe, which is funded by state wildlife agencies and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Competitive State Wildlife Grants Program.

“The Competitive SWG grant of 2009 included $200,000 for high-priority research,” explained Lisa Williams, coordinator for the grant for the Game Commission. “Our partners unanimously identified treatment and control of White Nose Syndrome as their highest priority, but we wanted to wait until the timing was right to use the funding most effectively. At this point, preliminary WNS treatment studies have been completed, and we are at a point where targeted funds should help us move forward in the search for an agent to prevent or control the impacts of WNS.”

“White-Nose Syndrome has spread rapidly since first being identified near Albany, New York, in 2007, and the best course of action for Northeast and Mid-Atlantic wildlife managers is to continue combining forces and resources to search for answers to this complex problem,” said Carl G. Roe, Game Commission executive director. “Time is of the essence, because mortality has been extensive, bats aren’t overly plentiful and their reproductive rates are extremely low – one pup per adult female per year.”

A multi-state review team selected the two projects from eight high-quality proposals received in response to a competitive call for projects announced in June. Proposals were reviewed and selected by representatives from the Pennsylvania Game Commission, Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection, Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife, Maryland Department of Natural Resources, New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife, New York Department of Environmental Conservation, Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and West Virginia Division of Natural Resources.

The focus of both projects is to further the development of prevention and treatment options for wildlife managers facing White Nose Syndrome. To date, there has been little recourse to combat this disorder in bat hibernacula. Wildlife managers have been eliminating or limiting visits and disturbances to colonies and studying the carcasses of afflicted bats to learn more about this disorder’s cataclysmic consequences. Many managers, particularly those on the leading edge of WNS, have wished for a more active way to combat the threat.

“We understand that there is little possibility of treating bats effectively throughout the entire Northeast even if these projects are incredibly successful,” noted Cal Butchkoski, the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s Diversity Section biologist who was involved in project selection. “But development of a prevention or treatment tactic could be useful in protecting specific high-priority colonies of bats threatened by WNS.”

The projects selected by the interstate panel of wildlife managers were:

• Terbinafine dosage and safety in WNS infected Myotis lucifugus: Correlation of survival, drug tissue levels, and toxic effects. Alison Robbins. Michael H. Court and Flo Tseng. Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Massachusetts. The purpose of this project is to determine dosages of the antifungal drug terbinafine in WNS-infected little brown bats that increase survival rates during hibernation.
• Fighting the good fight against Geomyces destructans: Evaluating non-invasive anti-Gd treatments and testing the ability of WNS-rehabilitated bats to resist Gd infection during hibernation. DeeAnn Reeder of Bucknell University and Hazel A. Barton of Northern Kentucky University. The purpose of this project is to: 1.) test the efficacy and safety of non-invasive antifungal treatments for two species of bats, and 2.) test whether affected bats that have been successfully rehabilitated have effectively shed the fungus and can hibernate in a clean environment without regrowth of the fungus.

“This heightened multi-state response improves what wildlife agencies already had set into motion in the northeastern United States, but as WNS advances into more states, the potential for harm and the consequences associated with having fewer bats become greater,” explained Williams. “If the large bat colonies to the south of us encounter WNS, funding will need to rise dramatically to meet the threat head-on. At stake are our Eastern bats, with several species imperiled. What remains unclear is whether WNS can be stopped and if we have the resources needed to do it.”

In Pennsylvania, when it strikes a hibernating population of bats, WNS typically results in greater than 95 percent mortality after just two years of infection. But what has been seemingly unstoppable in bats appears to have no ill-effect on humans, with the exception that folks are finding dead and dying bats around their homes and occasionally afield.

For more information on WNS, Pennsylvania cave bats or to report a sick bat in your area, visit the Game Commission’s website (www.pgc.state.pa.us). Hyperlinks to all of these areas can be found either on the website’s homepage or in the “Wildlife” section under “Wildlife Diseases.”

White-Nose Syndrome In Bats

Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife

Delaware --(AmmoLand.com)- Delaware environmental officials have confirmed the fungus associated with White-nose Syndrome (WNS) on bats in two locations in New Castle County.

The disease is characterized by a white fungus on the noses, wings, tails and ears of bats. The fungus thrives in cold temperatures and is seen on bats in caves and mines in the northeast, Canada and, more recently, in Tennessee and Missouri.

Delaware does not have known hibernation sites suitable for the fungus to grow; therefore WNS has not been detected here in winter. Bats typically groom the fungus off when they leave their hibernation sites at the end of the winter, making it more difficult to detect in spring and summer. However, it may still be present and affect bats after they return to their maternity colony sites, which can be many miles from their winter homes.

The bats tested – new arrivals to their summer roost sites in Delaware – had wing and ear scarring consistent with WNS and tissue samples were sent to the National Wildlife Research Center for testing. Both samples came back positive for the fungus Geomyces destructans. These were the first bats examined and officials expect it to be common and widespread.

WNS poses no health threat to humans but has caused the death of over a million bats and has been detected from Canada to Tennessee to Missouri. Many researchers and cave visitors have been in contact with affected bats and caves and no humans have become ill from this disease. Although there will be no direct impact to human, pet or livestock health, the anticipated loss of large numbers of bats could have indirect impacts on humans. As the primary consumer of night flying insects, bats help control mosquito, beetle and moth (some of which are serious agricultural pests) populations.

Some of Delaware’s most common bat species, little brown, big brown and tri-colored bats are affected by WNS. Some less populous species, such as the small-footed and long-eared bats, are also at risk. Other bat species found in Delaware, such as the red bat, silver-haired, hoary and evening bats are less at risk because they do not typically overwinter in caves and mines where the fungus is doing most of its damage.

The presence of the WNS-associated fungus in Delaware does not come as a surprise to bat biologists because all of the state’s summer colonies of cave bats migrate here from other states with caves or mines and all of the states within migrating distance of Delaware have previously confirmed WNS.

Delaware officials will continue to search for bat colonies, monitor bats for signs of the disease and assess possible changes in population sizes.

We ask that the public:

• Report bat roost locations;
• Report dead bats or bats exhibiting unusual behavior, such as flying during the day;
• Do not touch bats. In addition to the possibility of the bat carrying rabies, there is concern that humans can speed the spread of WNS by unknowingly carrying the fungus from one location to another.

Individuals interested in helping can volunteer to track Delaware’s bat population. Please see http://www.fw.delaware.gov/bats for information on Delaware’s volunteer bat count project.

To report a bat colony or unusual bat behavior, please call 735-8651 or enter the information on-line at http://www.fw.delaware.gov/bats/ and scroll to link at bottom of page.

For more information, please call Holly Niederriter of Delaware Division of Fish & Wildlife, at 302-735-8651.

White-Nose Syndrome In Bats

Maryland Department of Natural Resources

Annapolis, Md. --(AmmoLand.com)- Several dead bats and over two hundred visibly affected bats were found during a survey conducted in an Allegany County cave near Cumberland on March 5.

The bats observed during the survey exhibited a white fungus concentrated around the muzzle of the infected bats. The findings are consistent with White-Nose Syndrome (WNS) and if confirmed, this will be Maryland’s first documented occurrence of the disease.

“Many biologists suspect that the WNS fungus, Geomyces destructans, is a non-native pathogen recently introduced to the United States,” said Dana Limpert, DNR Wildlife and Heritage Service ecologist and bat expert. “Fortunately WNS is not known to be harmful to humans. Unfortunately there is no known cure for bats infected with the disease, so our priority is preventing the spread of this deadly syndrome to other bat caves or hibernacula.”

WNS, likely spread by contact among bats and their environment, is a disease suspected of killing more than a million bats in the northeastern United States. Bat carcasses and fungal samples were sent to the National Wildlife Health Center in Madison, Wis. for verification. Positive laboratory confirmation of the fungus is expected to take several weeks.

The disease has been documented in caves and mines where large numbers of bats hibernate. The disease has not been found in bats that use buildings or other man-made structures. Based on its distribution in the northeastern states, WNS in Maryland is only expected to occur in the mountainous parts of the State where caves occur. It is not expected to be found in metropolitan environments.

“It is unclear how this cave became infected but there is evidence from other locations in the Northeast that cavers may be a source for spreading the WNS fungus,” said Dan Feller, the DNR ecologist who discovered the dead bats. “Cavers are generally responsible outdoor enthusiasts, but contaminated clothing and gear may inadvertently transmit spores into new areas, potentially impacting vital bat populations. We will begin immediately to elicit support from the local caving community to help us limit the spread of this disease.”

WNS was first discovered in a cave near Albany, N.Y. in February 2006. It has been confirmed or suspected in 10 states in the eastern U.S. from New Hampshire to Tennessee. Since 2006, biologists across the Northeast have reported as much as a 100% decline in hibernating bats in affected caves.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service requests that cavers refrain from caving in all WNS affected states and adjoining states. And cavers should refrain from caving anywhere during the hibernation period (September – May) to minimize disturbance and mortality to bats.

DNR biologists, following strict protocols established by the Northeastern WNS Working Group, will continue their monitoring efforts to determine if any other hibernation sites are affected in the state. Additional information on white-nose syndrome can be found at: http://dnr.maryland.gov/wildlife/bats/nhpbatdisease.aspl.

About:
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), which celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2010, is the state agency responsible for providing natural and living resource-related services to citizens and visitors. DNR manages more than 467,000 acres of public lands and 17,000 miles of waterways, along with Maryland’s forests, fisheries, and wildlife for maximum environmental, economic and quality of life benefits. A national leader in land conservation, DNR-managed parks and natural, historic, and cultural resources attract 12 million visitors annually. DNR is the lead agency in Maryland’s effort to restore the Chesapeake Bay, the state’s number one environmental priority. Learn more at www.DNR.Maryland.gov.

White-Nose Syndrome In Bats

West Virginia DNR

West Virginia --(AmmoLand.com)- Biologists from the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) report that white-nose syndrome (WNS) has been confirmed in a bat in Hellhole, Pendleton County, West Virginia, by the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study in Athens, Ga.

If the effects of WNS on the bats in Hellhole are similar to those seen elsewhere, biologists expect that WNS will devastate the bat population in this cave, including endangered species.

Hellhole is the largest and most important bat cave in the state. An estimated 200,000 bats spend the winter hibernating in the cave. The cave is also important on a national level as it is designated critical habitat for two federally endangered species, the Indiana bat and the Virginia big-eared bat.

Hellhole supports nearly 13,000 Indiana bats and 5,000 Virginia big-ears. The other bats in the cave are mostly the more common little brown bat. This single cave supports more than 40 percent of the world’s entire hibernating population of Virginia big-eared bats. Hellhole is privately owned and is closed to the public.

WNS is a serious wildlife health crisis estimated to have caused the death of more than 1 million bats during the past three years. It is named for a white fungus that often appears on the muzzles of hibernating bats. Once a cave is infected, the fungus spreads rapidly through the bat population, and mortality may exceed 90 percent.

WNS was first seen in early 2006 in a cave near Albany, N.Y. Since then, it has spread more than 500 miles to caves in 10 states from New Hampshire to Tennessee. Last winter it was documented in four caves in Pendleton County, but not Hellhole.

WNS is spread bat-to-bat as they cluster in caves and mines. In addition, scientists have evidence that it could also be transferred from one cave to another on the footwear, clothing, and gear of humans visiting caves. Infected caves and mines may not initially show obvious signs of its presence, so cavers may be unaware that their gear is contaminated.

Bats with WNS use up their fat stores too quickly and do not have the energy reserves they require to hibernate the entire winter. The bats exhibit unusual behaviors, such as flying out of caves during the winter, even in the middle of the day. Unfortunately, few insects are available for the bats to feed on, and eventually the bats starve to death. There have been no reported human illnesses attributed to WNS, and there is no evidence to suggest that WNS is harmful to any animals other than bats.

In January 2010, bats were observed flying out of the entrance of Hellhole. Laboratory tests conducted on a little brown bat captured as it left Hellhole confirmed that the bat was carrying the WNS fungus. WVDNR and USFWS biologists, in cooperation with the National Speleological Society and Germany Valley Karst Survey, are planning to conduct a trip into Hellhole to further document the condition of the bats.

Bats play a key role in keeping insects, including as agricultural pests, mosquitoes and forest pests, under control. Between April and October, each bat can eat its body weight in insects each night. Bats provide a tremendous public service in terms of pest control. If we lose our bat populations, we will lose the tremendous ecological and economic benefits the bats provide.

The USFWS and WVDNR are working with other partners to find ways to treat WNS and slow the spread. Because people may inadvertently transport WNS, in March 2009, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recommended a moratorium on caving in states with confirmed WNS and all adjoining states. In addition, because scientists are concerned about the presence of WNS in the vicinity of the most important Virginia big-eared bat caves, last year a few of these bats were brought into captivity for the first time in an attempt to establish a healthy population that could be used to restore populations if that should become necessary.

Although it is not unusual to see an occasional bat flying on a warm day in winter, it is unusual to see large number of bats or bats flying during inclement weather. If you see bats flying during the day and feel something is “just not right,” please report those sightings to: Bat Report, PO Box 67, Elkins, WV 26241. Please mention the county, location, approximate number of bats, time of day, weather conditions and your contact information.

For more information on WNS, please visit www.fws.gov/northeast/white_nose.html.

White-Nose Syndrome In Bats

Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife

Delaware --(AmmoLand.com)- Delaware environmental officials are closely monitoring the state’s bat populations for any occurrence here of White-nose Syndrome (WNS), a disease that has caused mass mortality at bat hibernation sites in northeastern states.

While WNS has not been detected in Delaware yet, as many as 1 million bats so far have died from the disease, most of them in states notable for having caves and mines where bats colonize when hibernating.

Only bat species that overwinter communally are known to be affected by WNS, but those include some of the more common bats, such as the little brown bat, big brown bat and the tri-colored bat (formerly known as the eastern pipistrelle). Northern long-eared bats,small-footed bats and the federally endangered Indiana bat have also been affected. WNS was first discovered in 2006 near Albany, N.Y. and has since been found to have killed bats in nine states.

Meanwhile, Delaware wildlife biologists are collecting information to aid in assessing the status of the disease and its effect on bat populations in the states such as Delaware that have no caves or underground mines. Public input is enthusiastically sought in gathering this information, said wildlife biologist Holly Niederriter of DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife.

“Right now, we are looking for any bats overwintering here in Delaware. The most likely species for people to see in winter is the hearty big brown bat, which can overwinter in residential attics, basements or barns. We also plan to check bats for signs of WNS as they return to their summer nesting sites and to continue our volunteer bat count program in the spring.” Niederriter said.

The public is asked to use an online reporting application if you if you know of any winter or summer rooting sites. Please only report sites if you know where the bats roost. Also, if you see a number of dead bats (five or more) in one location, or see a similar number of bats flying in the middle of the day or clinging low on structures; please let us know.

Input your information by visiting http://www.fw.delaware.gov/bats/ and clicking on the online reporting form. Seeing one or two bats out during the day or clinging to the side of a house is not unusual, and need not be reported.

DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife oversees a volunteer bat count project, found online at http://www.fw.delaware.gov/bats/Pages/BatCount2010.aspx, and is always looking for new volunteers.

For more information, please call Bill Langworthy or Holly Niederriter of Delaware Division of Fish & Wildlife, at 302-653-2880.

New Jersey Fish and Game

Washington, DC --(AmmoLand.com)- Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) has announced that funding to protect bat populations in New Jersey and throughout the region has been increased from $500,000 to $1.9 million for FY 2010.

The senator successfully fought to increase the funding for research into a mysterious and deadly illness called White Nose Syndrome (WNS) that is destroying bat populations in New Jersey and the Northeast Region.

The legislation will now head to the White House where it is expected to be signed into law.

WNS is named for white fungal growth around the noses and on the bodies of affected animals. It first appeared in caves near Albany, New York in February 2006 and was confirmed in New Jersey in 2009. Over the last two winters, more than one million hibernating bats have died.

On July 8 Lautenberg, a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Water and Wildlife Subcommittee, highlighted the threat of WNS on bat populations during a Senate hearing that he called for to examine threats to native wildlife species.

For more information, including a link to a map showing the disease’s spread, see the news release on Senator Lautenberg’s website at http://lautenberg.senate.gov/newsroom/record.cfm?id=319502 .