White-Nose Syndrome in bats:
Something is killing our bats

Four winters after its discovery near Albany, New York, White-nose Syndrome - a still-mysterious but deadly threat to American bats - has spread across New Jersey and Pennsylvania and into West Virginia. Preliminary reports, still unconfirmed by laboratory tests, suggest WNS may also be affecting hibernating bats in New Hampshire and Virginia. It has been killing bats, up to 90 percent of some infected populations - in New York, Vermont, Massachusetts and Connecticut.

White-Nose Syndrome was first recorded in photographs taken on February 16, 2006 in Howe Cave, New York; however, this was not reported until 2008. WNS was subsequently documented in nearby Schoharie Cavern in January 2007, and later that winter in three other caves in New York. All five sites were within a 15 km radius west of Albany, New York. By March 2008, bats exhibiting WNS were observed in hibernacula from at least four states (New York, Vermont, Massachusetts, and Connecticut). Early evidence obtained by state biologists indicated that several hundred thousand bats may have already died in this relatively small area.

If WNS continues to spread at current rate it has the potential to threaten entire species, including the already endangered Indiana and Virginia big-eared bats, and associated ecosystems. Field observations have shown that bats affected by WNS are characterized by some or all of the following: 1) a white fungus that grows on the nose, ears, and wing membranes; 2) depleted white and brown fat reserves by mid-winter; 3) a reduced capacity to arouse from deep torpor; 4) an apparent lack of immune response during hibernation; 5) ulcerated, necrotic and scarred wing membranes; and 6) atypical behavior causing bats to emerge prematurely from hibernacula in mid-winter. Laboratory studies have isolated a previously undescribed psychrophilic fungus, closely related to Geomyces spp, from bats affected with WNS. This fungus grows on the skin (nose, ears, and wing membranes) of hibernating bats, and laboratory studies revealed it grows optimally at low temperatures characteristic of hibernacula. There is histological evidence that the fungus sometimes penetrates the dermis, especially in areas associated with sebaceous glands and hair follicles.

White-nose syndrome has been found in a bat in France, according to an article published in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Emerging Infectious Diseases journal. White-Nose Syndrome Fungus (Geomyces destructans) in Bat, France reports that a bat found in March 2009 had the characteristic white fungus on its nose. Laboratory testing confirmed that the fungus was the same as that found on bats in nine northeast states where WNS has devastated bat populations.

USDA Forest Service

Rocky Mountain Region

July 27, 2010 Contact: Janelle Smith, 303.275.5359 or 720.289.7587

DENVER, July 27, 2010 - Deputy Regional Forester Tony Dixon is issuing an emergency order today that will close all caves and abandoned mines on National Forests and National Grasslands in the Rocky Mountain Region of the U.S. Forest Service: Colorado, Wyoming, South Dakota, Nebraska and Kansas. The emergency closure order will be in effect beginning Tuesday, July 27, 2010, for a period of one year.

This action is in response to the spread of White-Nose Syndrome (WNS), a condition associated with the death of more than one million bats in the eastern United States. WNS was originally detected in New England and mid-Atlantic states. It has spread to states in the South and Midwest, and more recently has been found at sites in Missouri and northwest Oklahoma (progression map of fungus spread) - within 300 miles of the Pike and San Isabel National Forest in Colorado.

Bat mortality of nearly 100 percent has occurred in some WNS-affected caves and mines where bats hibernate. Nine bat species are known to have been affected since 2006, including the endangered Indiana bat and gray bat.

"Given the critical threat to bat populations that WNS poses, it is urgently necessary to take aggressive pre-emptive action to slow its spread," says Dixon. "The potential for collapse of regional bat populations, and the ecological and economic impacts that could result, are critical concerns."

"The Fish and Wildlife Service has witnessed how WNS has reduced or eliminated entire bat populations in the eastern United States. These measures will ensure regional bat populations continue to thrive. Bats are important to the ecological health of our landscapes, from providing natural pest control by eating harmful insects that can destroy crops and spread disease to pollinating plants and dispersing seeds," said Steve Guertin, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director of the Mountain-Prairie Region.

Scientists are certain transmission of WNS is occurring bat-to-bat and cave-to-bat. Scientists also suspect transmission of WNS may be facilitated by human activity in caves where bats hibernate, because of the geographically discontinuous spread of the syndrome. People may be inadvertently transporting fungal spores from cave to cave, as fungal spores have been detected on gear exposed to affected sites

White-Nose Syndrome is named for a white fungus that appears on the faces, ears, wings, and feet of hibernating bats. The disease causes bats to come out of hibernation severely underweight, often starving before the insects on which they feed emerge in the spring. Once a colony is infected, it spreads rapidly and can kill over 90 percent of bats within the cave in just two years.

There have been no reported human illnesses attributed to the fungus.

The Southeastern and Northeastern Cave Conservancies, National Speleological Society and many states have closed some of their caves because of WNS. In 2009, the Forest Service closed its caves and mines in the eastern United States.

During the year-long closure of caves and abandoned mines in the Rocky Mountain Region, scientists will work to better understand the cause, spread, and management of WNS. The Forest Service continues to work with partners on statewide management strategies, and monitoring of bats and WNS.

The U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service is maintaining a web site with the latest information about WNS, including a list of all cave and mine closures across the United States: 

http://www.fws.gov/northeast/white_nose.html 

1. What is white-nose syndrome? Hibernating bats in the northeastern United States are dying in record numbers, and we do not know the cause of the deaths. This wildlife health crisis, white-nose syndrome, is named for the white fungus evident on the muzzles and wings of affected bats. This affliction was first documented at four sites in eastern New York in the winter of 2006-07. Subsequently, we saw photographs taken in February 2006 of apparently affected bats at an additional site. WNS has rapidly spread to multiple sites throughout the northeast. Researchers associate WNS with a newly identified fungus (Geomyces sp.) that thrives in the cold and humid conditions characteristic of the caves and mines used by bats. The fungus could be responsible for the bat deaths, or it could be secondary to the cause. Bats affected with WNS do not always have obvious fungal growth, but they may display abnormal behavior within and outside of their hibernacula (caves and mines where bats hibernate during the winter).

 2. How is WNS is transmitted? We believe that WNS is transmitted primarily from bat to bat. There is a strong possibility that it may also be transmitted by humans inadvertently carrying the causative agent from cave to cave on their clothing and gear. 

3. Where has WNS been observed? Biologists and/or cavers have documented WNS in bat hibernacula in New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Virginia. We expect this list of states to increase over time.

4. What are signs of WNS? Bats may lose their fat reserves, which they need to survive hibernation, long before the winter is over. They often leave their hibernacula during the winter and die. As winter progresses, we find increasing numbers of dead bats in the affected locations. WNS may be associated with some or all of the following unusual bat behavior: n White fungus, especially on the bat's nose, but also on the wings, ears or tail; n Bats flying outside during the day in temperatures at or below freezing; n Bats clustered near the entrance of hibernacula; and n Dead or dying bats on the ground or on buildings, trees or other structures. Hibernating bats may have other white fungus not associated with WNS. If a bat with fungus is not in an affected area and has no other signs of WNS, it may not have WNS.

5. What should you do if you find dead or dying bats in winter or early spring, or if you observe bats with signs of WNS? n Contact your state wildlife agency, file an electronic report in those states that offer this service, e-mail U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologists at WhiteNoseBats@fws. gov, or contact your nearest Service field office (find locations at http:// www.fws.gov/northeast/offices. html) to report your potential WNS observations. n It is important to determine the species of bat in case it is a federally protected species. Photograph the potentially affected bats (including close-up shots if possible) and send the photograph and a report to your contact (above). n If you need to dispose of a dead bat found on your property, pick it up with a plastic bag over your hand or use disposable gloves. Place both the bat and the bag into another plastic bag, spray with disinfectant, close the bag securely, and dispose of it with your garbage. Thoroughly wash your hands and any clothing that comes into contact with the bat. See a short instructional video on our WNS Web site. n If you see a band on the wing or a small device with an antenna on the back of a bat (living or dead), contact your state wildlife agency or your nearest Service field office as these are tools for biologists to identify individual bats. 

6. What species of bats are affected? Tri-colored, little brown, northern long-eared, big brown, small-footed and Indiana bats have died from WNS. Big brown bats are typically found in lower numbers in the affected sites, and few have been found with the signs of WNS.

7. What are the Service and other federal and state agencies doing to find the cause and a cure for WNS? An extensive network of state and federal agencies is working to investigate the source, spread and cause of bat deaths associated with WNS and to develop management strategies to minimize the impacts of WNS. The overall WNS investigation has three primary focus areas: research, monitoring/management and outreach. For example, we are conducting winter surveys to document and track affected sites, working with the caving community and local cave owners to target potential sites for surveys and protective measures, and securing funding to identify and fund research on the spread and management of WNS. In addition, the Service has a Web page as a central repository for up-to-date information and links to other relevant Web sites. 

8. What should cavers know and do? The Service and the states request that cavers observe all cave closures and advisories and avoid caves, mines or passages containing hibernating bats to minimize disturbance to the bats. The Service asks that cavers and cave visitors stay out of all caves in the affected states and adjoining states to help slow the potential spread of WNS. Local and national cave groups have also posted information and cave advisories on their Web sites. 

9. Does WNS pose a risk to human health? Thousands of people have visited affected caves and mines since WNS was first observed, and there have been no reported illnesses attributable to WNS. We are still learning about WNS, but we know of no risk to humans from contact with WNS-affected bats. However, we urge taking precautions and not exposing yourself unnecessarily to WNS. Biologists and researchers use protective clothing when entering caves or handling bats in the Northeast. 

10. What is the effect of WNS on bats? Some 400,000 bats have died from WNS, and there seems to be no end in sight. We have seen 90 to 100 percent mortality of bats (primarily little brown bats) at several hibernacula in New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Vermont. However, there may be differences in mortality by site and by species within sites. The endangered Indiana bat hibernates in many of the affected sites. We are closely monitoring Indiana bat populations in many hibernacula and, to the extent possible, in their summer maternity colonies. In New York and New England, we think as a result of WNS, winter counts of Indiana bats have declined. During the winter of 2008-2009 we conducted our biennial rangewide winter counts of Indiana bats. Early results from New York report significantly fewer bats. In addition to the Indiana bat, WNS has reached sites that contain the endangered Virginia big-eared bat. While no Virginia big-eared bats have exhibited signs of WNS yet, we are closely monitoring this species. 

11. Is global climate change a possible cause of WNS? While the many possible causes of WNS are being investigated, there is currently no evidence to support a link between climate change and WNS. Microclimates in caves and mines where bats hibernate have been stable during the time period when WNS emerged, and there are no data indicating changes in insect prey populations in the affected region. Potential impacts of global climate change will continue, however, to be monitored as part of the investigation process.

Bats

Bats are mammals belonging to the order Chiroptera, a name of Greek origin meaning "hand-wing," which accurately describes the animal's most unusual anatomical feature. The order is divided into two suborders, the Megachiroptera, consisting of a single family, the flying foxes and their Old World fruit and flower eating relatives, and the Microchiroptera, composed of the rest of the bat families, some 17 in all. These families are further classified into about 180 genera and over 900 species; only rodents have a greater number of species. Even though the names imply otherwise, not all Megabats are larger than Microbats. Although it is true that certain species of flying foxes have wingspans of up to 5 feet, one member of the Megachiroptera, the flower-feeding Macroglosus, has a wingspan of only 10 inches. However, some of the Microchiroptera are very tiny; the smallest is probably the Philippine bamboo bat, Tylonycteris pachypus, its forearm measuring only 22mm. and weighing only 0.05 ounce. The largest Microbat is the tropical American false vampire, Vampyrum spectrum, with a wingspan of up to 40 inches.

Because bats are small, secretive, feed at night, and are unfamiliar to most people, they are sometimes regarded as rare. On the contrary, they are found throughout the world except for certain oceanic islands, the Arctic and Antarctic. Though most species inhabit the tropical and semitropical areas of the world, they are still common in the United States and are most numerous in the Southwest. Sone bats prefer to roost in barns, attics, caves or abandoned mines, those shelters providing safety from predators, protection from fluctuations in weather, and seclusion for rearing the young. Other species select hollow trees or rock crevices as their daytime resting site, while certain ones are known to roost in exposed locations, clinging to tree trunks or hanging upside down from tree branches. To survive in colder regions, bats either hibernate in shelters with high humidity and temperatures above freezing, or migrate to warmer areas where food is available.

Bats serve as important pollinators of many food plants as well as provide useful aids for medical research, particulary for the blind. Bats are the only major predator of night-flying insects. Bat prey includes lacewings, cockroaches, gnats, and mosquitos as their major food source. A single Big brown bat can eat between 3,000 and 7,000 mosquitos in a night, with large populations of bats consuming thousands of tons of potentially harmful forest and agricultural pests annually.

Diet

70% of bats consume insects.  There are also fruit-eating bats; nectar-eating bats; carnivorous bats that prey on small mammals, birds, lizards and frogs; fish-eating bats; and the blood-sucking vampire bats of South America.

Population

While some bat populations number in the millions, others are dangerously low or in decline.

Range

Bats can be found almost anywhere in the world except the polar regions and extreme deserts.

Behavior

Echolocation
Some bats have evolved a highly sophisticated sense of hearing.  They emit sounds that bounce off of objects in their path, sending echoes back to the bats.  From these echoes, the bats can determine the size of objects, how far away they are, how fast they are traveling and even their texture, all in a split second

Bats find shelter in caves, crevices, tree cavities and buildings.  Some species are solitary while others form colonies of more than a million individuals.

Reproduction
Gestation 40 days - 6 months (bigger bats have longer gestation periods)
Litter Size Mostly one pup
For their size, bats are the slowest reproducing mammals on Earth.  At birth, a pup weighs up to 25 percent of its mother's body weight, which is like a human mother giving birth to a 31 pound baby!  Offspring typically are cared for in maternity colonies, where females congregate to bear and raise the young. Male bats do not help to raise the pups.

Batman 

Batman (originally referred to as the Bat-Man and still referred to at times as the Batman) is a fictional character, a comic book superhero co-created by artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger (although only Kane receives official credit), appearing in publications by DC Comics. The character first appeared in Detective Comics #27 in May 1939. Batman's secret identity is Bruce Wayne, a wealthy industrialist, playboy, and philanthropist. 

 Wayne took up the mantle of the Batman after devoting his life to fighting crime upon witnessing the murder of his parents. Realizing that criminals are cowardly and superstitious, he decided to fashion his crime-fighting costume after a dark creature of the night, a bat, in order to instill fear into all criminals he encountered.

Batman operates in the fictional American Gotham City, assisted by various supporting characters including his sidekick Robin and his butler Alfred Pennyworth, and fights an assortment of villains influenced by the characters' roots in film and pulp magazines. Unlike most superheroes, he does not possess any superpowers; he makes use of intellect, detective skills, science and technology, wealth, physical prowess, and intimidation in his war on crime.

Batman became a popular character soon after his introduction, and gained his own comic book title, Batman, in 1940. As the decades wore on, differing takes on the character emerged. 

The late 1960s Batman television series utilized a camp aesthetic associated with the character for years after the show ended. 

Various creators worked to return the character to his dark roots, culminating in the 1986 miniseries Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, by writer-artist Frank Miller. The successes of director Tim Burton's 1989 film Batman and Christopher Nolan's 2005 reboot Batman Begins also helped to re-ignite popular interest in the character. A cultural icon, Batman has been licensed and adapted into a variety of media, from radio to television and film, and appears on a variety of merchandise sold all over the world.

http://www.fws.gov/northeast/white_nose.html

• Endangered Species

Credit: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bat Conservation International, Smithsonian Institute, DC Comics