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White Nose Syndrome: Millions Of Bats Killed In U.S. And Canada By Fungal Ailment

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First Posted: 01/17/12 05:02 PM ET Updated: 01/18/12 12:54 PM ET

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ALBANY, N.Y. - Scientists studying white nose syndrome in bats estimate the fungal ailment has killed at least 5.7 million bats in the U.S. and Canada.

White nose is caused by a fungus that prompts bats to wake from their winter hibernation and die after they fly into the cold air in a doomed search for insects.

First detected in a cave west of Albany in 2006, U.S. federal authorities say infected bats have been found in 16 states from the Northeast to the South and as far west as Indiana and Kentucky.

It also has been detected in four Canadian provinces.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says Tuesday the new estimate shows the severity of the threat to bats.

Loading Slideshow...

  • Little Brown Bat With White-Nose Syndrome

    Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Northeast Region/Flickr

  • Big Brown Bat

    Photo: Angell Williams/Flickr

  • Northern Long-Eared Bat

    Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Headquarters/Flickr

  • Eastern Small-Footed Myotis Hybernating

    Photo: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/driggs/5501014865/" target="_hplink">Dave Riggs/Flickr</a>

  • Silver-Haired Bat

    Photo: NPS/Wikimedia Commons

  • Eastern Red Bat With Three Babies

    Photo: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/bugginout/4667613879/" target="_hplink">Josh Henderson/Flickr</a>

  • Hoary Bat

    Photo: M. Siders (BLM)


WATCH Thomas Kunz and his team at Boston University's bat lab discuss white-nose syndrome and the implications for the little brown bat population:
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ALBANY, N.Y. - Scientists studying white nose syndrome in bats estimate the fungal ailment has killed at least 5.7 million bats in the U.S. and Canada.White nose is caused by a fungus that prompts bat...
ALBANY, N.Y. - Scientists studying white nose syndrome in bats estimate the fungal ailment has killed at least 5.7 million bats in the U.S. and Canada.White nose is caused by a fungus that prompts bat...
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zilou
9 Fans
09:54 AM on 01/22/2012
I have bat boxes set up at the cottage and watch them fly away as the sun goes down.
It is something to see and as a bonus eat mosquitoes and other bothersome insects.
I certainly hope they recover from this parasite.
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ChairmanMoe
The Revolution Will NOT Be Televised
21 Fans
01:02 PM on 01/18/2012
We visited Craters of the Moon, Idaho, last June & were told not to explore the lava tubes there inasmuch as the bats had some kinda disease like this. According to this article, this White Nose syndrome is only as far west a Indiana so maybe there's more going on with the bats than this one disease.
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Sister Bluebird
568 Fans
01:20 PM on 01/18/2012
Parasites and bacterium in bat guano can be very bad for humans. So it may have been something that is more harmful to us than the bats.
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blackandmoore
3 Fans
10:53 AM on 01/18/2012
This is very sad and very important news. Like other wild life, we really need them to complete the circle of life. These little guys help even out the eco system...just like the beleaguered bees! Not take information like this lighter it is more important that you think.
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Aurel1us
They're eating her!Then they'll eat meeee
172 Fans
08:13 PM on 01/18/2012
Think of how annoying blackfly season will be! Hope research can be funded to maybe mitigate the damage to those bats who are not infected at the moment.
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sunglow
1 Fans
10:35 AM on 01/18/2012
these people have no remorse they want to make bats suffer ,its all in there head i;m wondering why because these bats came near them and they peed in their pants so they got scared so they decided to kill all but you can kill all because not all bats will be killed they will fly on them because bats know when people come and they will escape but may god make the bats go on them
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sunglow
1 Fans
09:53 AM on 01/18/2012
you people you just want to kill bats not b cause for disease just because theres too many now you want to do it how about before in 2000 or years before come on give me a freakin break KILLERS there will always be lots of bats how about rats there are poison too you guys are going to kill them they come out too when there home is disturb how abut mice bacteria too do something else like research people brain and yours why you guys like to kill animals for no reason or you give a reason just because how about puppy mills abused cats or dogs or other animals
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DaniFoxy
Crazy girl from LA
380 Fans
09:42 AM on 01/18/2012
████████ bats ██████ unknown. ██████████ over ██ ████ centuries ██ ████.
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Mithrall
My inner child is a mean little S.O.B.
366 Fans
 
09:40 AM on 01/18/2012
Okay.. The Illegal use of cocaine has gone too far.
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thewirah
Freedom is a dish best served cold
360 Fans
09:25 AM on 01/18/2012
Poor little guys.
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Bellla
Trans & Proud
539 Fans
09:19 AM on 01/18/2012
Bats usually hibernate in large groups which spreads the fungus, couldn't hibernating bats be dusted with antifungals to save them?
We need the bats!
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June25
784 Fans
09:56 AM on 01/18/2012
They could but their too cranky to accept any sort of help.
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Sister Bluebird
568 Fans
01:21 PM on 01/18/2012
I think you should pose that question to a scientist or wildlife expert involved in the conservation effort.

It may be, that the anti-fungals carry side effects of their own. But still--a worthy question.
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Purlantov Purlantov
6 Fans
09:11 AM on 01/18/2012
White nose syndrome is a very serious disease that is severely endangering bats. Bats are crucial for the environment so let's hope a cure is found soon.

www.igor-purlantov.info
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kareemachan
watashi ha tororu ga oroka da to omoi masu。
1794 Fans
09:08 AM on 01/18/2012
Just last summer I found two dead bats that had succumbed to this. And if you don't think it's a problem, just google how many insects bats eat...
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GravitonX
10^300 bosons could care less.
1773 Fans
08:56 AM on 01/18/2012
We can probably trace this all back to "dirty" energy and pollution.
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June25
784 Fans
09:47 AM on 01/18/2012
No it's simple math we provide to many new homes for them so all the bat colonies become interconnected.In the odd days the infection died off with the colony but now it just spreads rapidly from colony to colony.
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mandrews58
44 Fans
11:00 AM on 01/18/2012
scientists are studying it but you are already sure of your answer...... "simple math"
that's thinking like a conservative ...... FAIL!
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pooka
218 Fans
12:54 AM on 01/22/2012
Dirty boots. The fungus was carried in from Europe most likely on the footwear of cave enthusiasts.
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artDEsign
30 Fans
08:44 AM on 01/18/2012
More people need to set up wooden bat-boxes in their back yards. Adding many smaller populations of bats may give them a chance of riding this out. And it's easy to do!
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Bellla
Trans & Proud
539 Fans
09:20 AM on 01/18/2012
I have 2 bat boxes already, though I have yet to see any evidence of occupation.
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Holly H
230 Fans
08:35 AM on 01/18/2012
Its the Bat T-virus.
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hammergonewild
Poor quality makes me cry.
109 Fans
08:32 AM on 01/18/2012
I'm heartbroken. I love bats and appreciate their insect-devouring capabilities. Our ecosystems are continuing to fall apart. Very sad.
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