White Nose Syndrome: A new threat to New Hampshire's bats
Photo: Nancy Heaslip, New York Department of Environmental Conservation
07/10/09: White Nose Syndrome Affects N.H. Bats this summer; Peterborough Colony Decimated
2/23/09: White Nose Syndrome Seen in Bats in N.H. Hibernaculum; Residents Asked to Report Bats Seen Flying in Winter
Updated 1/10: Click to download The White-Nose Syndrome Mystery:
Something Is Killing Our Bats (PDF) and learn how you can help!
What Is White Nose Syndrome?
Hibernating bats are suffering from a new, mostly fatal syndrome called White Nose Syndrome (WNS). It was discovered in the winter of 2006-2007 in four caves in New York. In 2007-2008, WNS spread to caves in New York, Vermont, Massachusetts and Connecticut. New Hampshire has few places for bats to hibernate, so our bats hibernate in these other states. In 2008-2009, WNS spread as far as Virginia and up into Canada. Of the seven New Hampshire hibernacula surveyed last winter, five had WNS. Our largest hibernacula was not surveyed, as ice prevented researchers from entering it.
WNS is characterized by a white fungus that grows on the nose, wings and tails of affected bats in their hibernacula. They become emaciated and then some bats come out of hibernation and fly in search of food. They then seek shelter in houses and other buildings to escape the cold temperatures. The white fungus will not be visible on these bats.
A Serious Problem
In some caves in New York and Vermont, up to 99% of bats have died from WNS. WNS seems to have the biggest impact on the little brown bat, which is common in New Hampshire. The Eastern small-footed bat (state endangered in N.H.) has also been affected, as have all cave-hibernating bat species. We don't yet know what causes WNS, and we don't know what effect losing all these bats might have on our insect populations. Over a dozen research labs, many state and federal agencies, and nongovernmental organization partners are currently studying WNS and trying to learn more about what it is, how it is transmitted, and how to prevent it.
WNS now appears to be affecting bats during the summer months. Reports of empty barns where bats used to raise babies, empty skies over ponds, and babies being abandoned as the mothers cannot feed them have been coming in to our office and to biologists in other states. You can help by allowing bats to raise babies where they have for years -- in your barn or attic. You can put up a ceiling (even just tacking up a plastic tarp) between your roof and your equipment if you are having problems with the guano in your barn.
What you can do:
If you find dead bats, particularly in a colony, call the Wildlife Division at (603) 271-2461, email us at wildlife@wildlife.nh.gov or report it online at www.vtfishandwildlife.com/Sick_Acting_Bat_Citizen_Reporting_Form.cfm.
| NOTE: Since the bats are moving around to their hibernacula at this time, the online dead bat reporting system has been suspended. Please only report dead bats if you see many dead bats (write to wildlife@wildlife.nh.gov). The online reporting system will be back up again this winter, and we welcome your reports then. |
If you have bats roosting in your barn or shed and can leave them there so they can breed, that would be very helpful. If you would allow a researcher to come study the bats in your barn or shed, please contact the Wildlife Division at wildlife@wildlife.nh.gov.
During the winter, if you find bats clinging to the outside of buildings, dead or dying outside or flying outside, please contact the Wildlife Division by emailing wildlife@wildlife.nh.gov or call (603) 271-2461. We want to collect specimens to send to researchers who are studying this disease. There is nothing we can do for these bats, unfortunately. N.H. Fish and Game collaborates with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and other state wildlife agencies on the monitoring the spread of WNS and assisting researchers in determining the causes and responses to this problem.
Stay out of caves and mines in any state from Maine to Virginia and in eastern Canada, and observe cave closings in other states. Follow the USFWS advisories and decontamination protocols found at www.fws.gov/northeast/wnscavers.html.
CLICK HERE for the latest on WNS from the US Fish & Wildlife Service.
| THANK YOU BAT VOLUNTEERS! Click here for an update on the Bat Aid bat-bag sewing project, a list of generous volunteers, and words of thanks from researchers all across the Northeast. |
DO NOT HANDLE ANY BAT, DEAD OR ALIVE, WITHOUT THICK GLOVES.
Related articles:
Mysterious Ailment Could Wipe Out U.S. Northeast Bats (PDF, 39 KB) By Brian Handwerk, National Geographic News, May 14, 2008
'What are these bats telling us about the environment we
live in?'
Labs race to unravel deadly illness that may have broader impact. (PDF, 28 KB) By Beth Daley, Boston Globe, May 4, 2008 |
