Today the Washington Post reports:
“More than five years since the deadly white-nose fungus was first detected in a New York cave where bats hibernate, up to 6.7 million of the animals are estimated to have died in 16 states and Canada, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced Tuesday.”
According to the WSJ,
“A scientist studying the mysterious fungal ailment killing millions of bats across Vermont, New York and other states says the experiences of European bats that have been infected with a similar fungus that they’ve survived could provide lessons in the best way to control white nose fungus.”
Let’s hope the European bats have the cure. In the meantime, if you notice more insects this summer, you know why.
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~ by siouxsielaw on January 17, 2012.
Posted in Animals, Death, End of the World, Endangered Species
Tags: bats, white nose syndrome
Then, I guess, the question will be: How do we give the vaccine, antidote, etc. to the bats?
That would be a good problem to have.
How awful. I hate not knowing why these kinds of viruses/bacterias/ etc. emerge and take over they way they do. Is it natural? Is it climate change? Is it us?? 😦
The Tasmanian Devils are suffering a similar fate due to a bacteria that literally is eating off their noses. It’s horrific.
I’ve watched this problem for years now and donate to fund research every cause I get. I really wish they were making progress, but knowing that European bats may have survived a similar illness sounds promising.
Wow! I didn’t know this was happened. I come from Austin, TX where we have a HUGE population of Mexican bats that come in every year. Now that I’m living in NY I need to do some more research. Thank you for sharing.