White-Nose Syndrome

What is white-nose syndrome anyway? White-nose syndrome is a disease that is caused by the fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans. The disease is approximated to have killed millions of bats in eastern United States and Canada since 2006 and has the ability to kill up to 100% of bats in a colony during hibernation.

The First Reported U.S. Case

It was March of 2016 when the first case of white-nose syndrome in the western U.S. was confirmed in a species called the little brown bat close to North Bend in King County. Even though this disease has wiped out bat populations in eastern North America, scientists don’t quite know how it will impact populations of western bat species. Overall, numerous species of bats don’t hibernate in large groups like eastern North American bats. So, the spread of this disease in western states might be different.

About the Fungus

Pseudogymnoascus destructans grows on the nose, ears, and wings of an infected bat during their winter hibernation, giving it a white, fuzzy appearance, like that of cotton. Once the bats wake from hibernation, this fuzzy white appearance goes away. Even though the fungus may not be visible, it invades the deep skin tissues and causes even more extensive damage.

Infected bats awake more often during hibernation which causes them to utilize critical fat reserves, leading to potential for starvation and even death. Additional causes of death from the disease include damage to their wings, the inability to regulate their body temperature (thermoregulation), interruptions in breathing, and dehydration.

White-nose syndrome is considered by many as being among the worst wildlife diseases in modern history. It has killed literally millions of bats across North America. White-nose syndrome has spread to 35 states and to 7 Canadian provinces.

Even though the fungus is believed to be primarily transferred via bat-to-bat or by means of bat-to-environment contact, it can also be accidentally spread by humans. People have the potential to carry fungal spores on clothing, shoes, or recreation equipment that comes into contact with the fungus. Properly decontaminating shoes, clothes, and equipment used in areas where bats live is crucial in reducing the risk of spreading white-nose syndrome to new locales and to new colonies.

The fungus has the capability of surviving in the environments of underground hibernacula (such as caves and mines) for years, and scientists are presently researching how it persists in other environments where bats roost like attics, cliffs, or underneath bridges.

Winter hibernating areas serve as reservoirs for the fungus. Bats that use or even temporarily visit these hibernating locations can potentially deposit or pick up the fungus and transport it to other areas where other bats dwell. Identifying these types of environmental “hot spots” for the fungus, and how bats may be coming into contact with and moving the fungus across North America, is a crucial part of reducing the spread of white-nose syndrome.

Why Bats Matter

Bats are incredible and invaluable creatures that are critical to a healthy environment. A single bat can consume up to 8,000 insects in a single night! They eat upwards of 1,500 insects an hour! Bats in the U.S. alone save farmers an estimated $3 billion each year in free pest control.

A single colony of bats can consume literally tons of insects that would otherwise invade valuable crops, or threaten human health and safety. Some bat species also eat moths or beetles that are harmful forest pests.

How Can You Help Bats?

Avoid going into areas where bats may be living to reduce the potential of spreading the fungus that causes this disease and disturbing vulnerable bats. Also, don’t allow your pet(s) to enter areas where bats may be roosting or overwintering as they may carry the fungus to more sites.

Don’t handle live or dead bats. If you have found a sick or dead bat, please report it using the online reporting form and reach out to the nearest wildlife rehab facility.

Report groups of bats you see utilizing this handy online observation form. The information gathered will assist scientists in understanding bat populations and help to monitor white-nose syndrome.

There are other ways to get involved in bat conservation! You can use this link for creating bat habitats to help improve habitats for bats in your area.

You can also help bats out by reducing the lighting around your home, reducing tree clearing, and do your part to protect lakes, rivers, streams, and wetlands. Try to incorporate 1 or more snags (dead trees that bats use as a place to roost under loose bark at night in order to digest insects) into your landscape, keeping old and damaged trees whenever possible. Snags provide an important habitat not only for bats but other backyard wildlife.

You should also install a bat house or houses on your property as well.

Random Bat Facts

Did you know that Texas contains 32 of the 47 known species of bats found in the United States?

Bats are the only mammal that can truly fly (flying squirrels and more don’t count, as they only glide, but can’t fly).

Some bats can fly at speeds of up to 60 mph!

There are some bat species that live for more than 30 years.

To learn tons more about all kinds of bats visit the flying mammals section here on Critter Science.