1. Can We Reduce Risk to Bats? Student Sheets
READING PASSAGE:BATS AND WHITE-NOSESYNDROME
Despite their reputation, bats are both ecologically and
economically important. Some species can eat up to their
own body weight in insects a night, and therefore help
remove pests for humans. They also are an integral part of
the ecosystem by helping to keep it stable. Imagine what
life would be like without bats.
This could soon become the case with a new “disease” that
is spreading like wildfire. The disease is White-nose
Syndrome. It was first documented in a hibernacula in New
York during the winter of 2006-2007. It has since been
documented to have killed more than 5.7 million bats, with
some hibernacula being completely wiped out.
The culprit? A fungus called Pseudogymnoascus destructans, or PD for short. The fungus thrives
in cold environments, and affects the bats when they are hibernating during the winter. The
bats show a few symptoms, but the most obvious is the white patchy fungus that can be found
on their muzzles, wing membranes, etc. It disrupts the hibernation of the bat, and once awake
they need to use more energy to stay warm, which causes them to use up their fat reserves.
Once these reserves get low enough, they need to find food. Since it is the middle of winter
they can’t find a food source and eventually die from exposure or starvation.
In the U.S. and Canada, there has been 7 confirmed species that are affected by the disease.
They are the: Big Brown Bat, Eastern Small-footed Bat, Gray Bat (endangered), Indiana Bat
(endangered), Little Brown Bat, Northern Long-eared Bat (proposed for listing), and the
Tricolored Bat. Three of these bats occur in North Dakota (bolded). There are also bat species
that have tested positive for the fungus, but show no symptoms. These include the Eastern Red
Bat, Southeastern Bat, Silver-haired Bat, Rafinesque’s Big-eared Bat, and Virginia Big-eared Bat.
Two of these species occur in North Dakota (bolded). It has been found in 25 of the 50 states,
all Eastern States, and 5 Canadian provinces. Neither the disease nor the fungus has been
confirmed in North Dakota.
It is not just a North American disease, and has also been documented and confirmed in
Europe. There is no information that shows that this disease transfers or affects other animals
or humans.
Sources:
- 2011. A national plan for assisting states, federal agencies, and tribes in managing
white-nose syndrome in bats. USFWS.