It ’s heavy to downplay the threat of white nose syndrome to North Americanbats . Since its arriver on the continent sometime in the early aughts , the fungous disease hasreducedthe populations of three species by 90 percent — it can quicklywipe outentire colonies and has killed about6 millionof the winged mammal . One prominent researchercalled it“the gravest menace to squash racket [ we ] have ever see . ”
But now , after 20 eld of warning and desperation , chiropterists and wildlife managers have developed a few proactive prick to battle the disease and reduce the death rate . If these measure — of late detailed inThe New York Times — continue to be successful , they could herald the kickoff of the end of the bat pandemic .
White nose syndrome is triggered by a particular fungus that arrive from Europe , where bats had develop immunity to it . When a bat carries it to a hibernaculum — a secluded pip , like a cave , wherebats hibernateduring the wintertime — the fungal spores fan out and linger . The resulting infection disturbs bats ’ eternal rest , forcing them to macerate muscularity from the fat modesty they stored before hibernate . This hacking of their metabolism can make bats to become malnourished and even hunger to death .
In 2013 , investigator essay a chemical substance calledpolyethylene glycol 8000(PEG ) on the fungus that causes white nose syndrome . The chemical is used to ascertain fungal infections in farming and has several sanitizing functions in human medicine . In these tests , the PEG coated the fungus spore and stopped them from develop .
In 2018 and 2019 , before the hibernation time of year , a squad lead by the Pennsylvania Game Commission sprayed an give up caravan burrow used as a hibernaculum with PEG . They after founddiminished infection rates .
These research worker also noted that bat who hibernated in cold parts of hibernacula increase their betting odds of survival , perhaps because these areas reduce their hunger and thus their demand to fly around seeking piddle , which uses up the hive away energy bats need to withstand the effects white nose syndrome .
The Pennsylvania team start funnel cool airwave into hibernacula and warm melodic line out . In Woodward Cave in Centre County , near State College , they even created stilted hibernacula with cool zephyr , copious water , and a app of PEG .
Another group of researchers , this one with Bat Conservation International , has had some succeeder with another , simple tactic . In Southern Illinois , they put out nutrient for cricket bat in summer , squawk them up to survive white olfactory organ syndrome during the wintertime .
Some people may mistakenly think at-bat are icky or creepy . Until a certainDC Comics creationfrom 1939,the folkloreandmisconceptionsaround them were not flattering . Yet bat are critical to ecosystem : theypollinate plantsand even give ustequila , disperse seeds toregrow forests , and rust bugs that would otherwise harm crops , relieve farmersas much as $ 53 billiona year in pest ascendency .
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