White Nose Syndrome has been wreaking havoc on bats in the US since 2006. Since its discovery by a caver in New York, WNS has rapidly spread through at least 18 states from New Hampshire to Tennessee, killing millions of bats. Biologists are baffled by this highly-contagious condition, and have yet to find a method for preventing the spread, or a cure. The result? 2.4 million pounds of bugs will be left unchecked, as bats are highly predatory of mosquitoes.
This impending ecological imbalance poses a real threat to the U.S. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services are recommending closing caves in the Northern and Southern states to prevent the spread of WNS. The federal government is stepping in with funds and guidelines to help prevent the spread of, and find a cause and cure for WNS. Researchers are investigating anti-fungal drugs as a way of decontaminating caves. In the meantime, many species of bats are in danger of the rapidly spreading WNS.
Interested in teaching your students more about ecology? Check out SSR's Vol 41 DVD, episode Ecology – Bats: Creatures of the Night. If your school would like to receive this free resource, visit http://www.ssrvideo.com/nhcmsp.html.
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