$800,000 in Grants Awarded to Research Deadly White-Nose Syndrome in Bats

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The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has awarded 6 grants totaling $800,000 to determine the cause and stop the spread of deadly white-nose syndrome that has killed over a million bats in the Northeast.

Six grants have been awarded through the USFWS Preventing Extinction program for research to determine the cause, find a cure, and stop the spread of deadly white-nose syndrome in bats. Since its discovery in 2006, white-nose syndrome (WNS) has killed more than a million bats of six species in nine states – and biologists warn this is most devastating wildlife health crisis to face North America in the last 100 years.

White-nose syndrome was discovered in a New York cave in February 2006, and has now spread throughout the Northeastern United States. The disease is expected to reach Midwestern and Southern states in the near future.

What is white-nose syndrome?

White-nose syndrome (WNS) attacks hibernating bats. Affected bats exhibit a white substance on their muzzles and exhibit unusual behavior during periods of hibernation:

• Winter flight
• Excessive grooming
• Unusually long periods of winter flight

The abnormal activity level ultimately depletes the bats’ winter fat reserves. Death by starvation follows.

According to the USFWS, a cold-loving fungus that has recently been identified may bring researchers closer to finding an answer.

Affected bat species

There are six hibernating bat species in the Northeastern U.S. currently affected by WNS:

• Big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus)
• Eastern small-footed myotis  (Myotis leibii)
• Little brown myotis (Myotis lucifugus)
• Northern myotis (Myotis septentrionalis)
• Indian myotis – endangered (Myotis sodalis)
• Tri-colored bat (Perimyotis subflavus)

25 species of bats in the U.S. hibernate in caves and mines – and are at risk of contracting WNS.

Grant recipients

The Smithsonian’s National Zoological Park will receive one of the grants to establish a captive population of the Virginia big-eared bat. There are only 15,000 Virginia big-eared bats remaining, and WNS puts this subspecies at significant risk of extinction.

In addition, the following white-nose syndrome research projects will receive USFWS funding:

• Analyzing Indiana bats to determine their susceptibility.
  Sybill K. Amelon, Ph.D., USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station; Guy Knudsen, Ph.D., University of Idaho; Sara Oyler-McCance, Ph.D., U.S. Geological Survey, Rocky Mountain Center for Conservation Genetics and Systematics; and Lori Eggert, Ph.D., University of Missouri. This project focuses on assessing the impact of white-nose syndrome on the genetic viability of Indiana bats.
• Identifying compounds to stop the fungus associated with white-nose syndrome.
  Hazel A. Barton, Ph.D., Northern Kentucky University, and Kevin Keel, DVM, Ph.D., University of Georgia. This research is on the propagation and decontamination of white-nose syndrome in the environment.
• Examining immunity and body composition in white-nose syndrome affected bats versus bats unaffected.
  Thomas H. Kunz, Ph.D., and Michael D. Sorenson, Ph.D.; Center for Ecology and Conservation Biology, Boston University, Massachusetts. This project will focus on Immune function, body composition and genetic correlates of bat white-nose syndrome.
• Developing a rapid WNS diagnostic test.
  Alison Robbins, MS, DVM, and Donna E. Akiyoshi, Ph.D.; Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Massachusetts. This funding will support the generation of Geomyces destructans specific monoclonal antibodies.
• Identifying the genetics of white-nose syndrome affected little brown bats to predict at-risk populations before white-nose syndrome hits.
  Deborah D. Iwanowicz, Ph.D., and Tim King, Ph.D.; U.S. Geological Survey, Leetown Science Center, West Virginia. This project will expand our understanding of white-nose syndrome in the Northeastern Vespertilionidae with emphasis on the little brown bat.

How to help

Please visit Bat Conservation International and the USFWS white-nose syndrome information page to learn more about the white-nose syndrome crisis and find out how to help.

Image: Little brown bat; close-up of nose with fungus, New York, Oct. 2008. Photo courtesy Ryan von Linden/New York Department of Environmental Conservation via U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service