Tell the US Fish and Wildlife Service to protect bats
Posted December 13, 2010 in Saving Wildlife and Wild Places
The fight to protect bats from the highly infectious fungal disease called white-nose syndrome often leaves one feeling helpless. With so little known about the newly described disease that continues to devastate bat populations as it spreads from the east coast of the US farther west, there is also little known about how to stop it. Here is a simple action that you can take to help wildlife managers do their best to protect the bats that are in danger from white-nose syndrome.
The US Fish and Wildlife Service is taking public comments on their proposed draft national plan which is designed to coordinate information and services among various state and federal agencies in responding to the white-nose syndrome outbreak. While management options are somewhat limited, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, as well as partner agencies such as the National Park Service and the US Geological Survey, nevertheless have an important role to play in responding to the white-nose syndrome epidemic.
The greatest need for addressing white-nose syndrome continues to be scientific research. The USGS has played an instrumental role in the description of the fungal disease and given enough resources they can continue to be a key player in unraveling the mystery of white-nose syndrome.
There is also a great need for an accurate and timely account of the distribution of white-nose syndrome as well as how bat populations are responding to the disease. With their broad network of wildlife professionals distributed across the country, federal and state agencies can play a central role in the monitoring and surveillance of the disease and corresponding bat populations.
Finally, the potential loss of any threatened or endangered bat species due to white-nose syndrome is a big concern and the agencies can be working to develop strategic conservation action plans for particularly sensitive species and populations of bats.
Most importantly, though, the US Fish and Wildlife Service should act quickly to finalize the national plan so that the critical work of coordinating these efforts can get underway. Click here to tell the Service to prioritize their work on white-nose syndrome and lead the effort to save our bats.
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Comments
Eva Montealegre — Dec 13 2010 12:15 PM
Save the bats, they eat insects and are symbolic of a whole web of life force that must be preserved!
Christine Trembicki-Guy — Dec 13 2010 12:25 PM
We need the little brown bat here in Northern NJ to keep down the mosquito population. Help them PLEASE!
Valerie Leonard — Dec 13 2010 12:35 PM
All species must be protected and saved...
Donna — Dec 13 2010 12:52 PM
Please save the bats.
cathala Corine — Dec 13 2010 01:15 PM
On doit protéger les chauve souris c'est impératif!!!
Steve Scarff — Dec 13 2010 01:32 PM
As a former spelunker, I thank you for drafting a National Plan to manage white-nose syndrome. Please make this a high priority. I hope the spread of this disease can be stopped, and the disease can eventually be eradicated. Bats are a critical part of our ecosystem for controlling insect pests, so efforts to protect them are extremely important. Please involve the National Speleological Society, as I'm sure they would be happy to help educate the caving community, if they haven't already.
Shawna Neumeister — Dec 13 2010 01:39 PM
Bats are increasingly endangered and are an important part of ecosystems keeping insect populations in check. We need to stop using pesticides and allow for bats and other creatures to take care of "pests" for us.
Sylvia Fallon — Dec 13 2010 01:40 PM
Thanks for the comments, everyone. Be sure to click on the link to the action so that your comments go to the US Fish and Wildlife Service.
Or go here:
https://secure.nrdconline.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=2095
Petra Wiehe — Dec 13 2010 07:21 PM
We need the brown bat for so many reasons. They are an extremely important part of our ecosystem. Please, please help them.
Barbara Elliott — Dec 13 2010 08:36 PM
Bats are a hugely important part of our ecosystem and need to be protected
Laura Olah — Dec 13 2010 09:20 PM
The Wisconsin Natural Resources board has just approved a permanent set of rules to slow the spread of white-nose syndrome in Wisconsin bats.
The rules classify four cave bats as threatened, list the fungus linked to the disease as an invasive species, and require cave and mine visitors to decontaminate their gear. They also grant the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources the power to inspect caves and mines and create site-specific prevention plans.
Our local organization, Citizens for Safe Water Around Badger (CSWAB), testified in support of the rules at the December 8 public hearing in Madison, WI. Other groups that testified in favor of the rules included the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation, Madison Audubon Society, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Joseph O'Sullivan — Dec 14 2010 12:20 AM
I have taken action on the NRDC's site.
I first saw an article in the NY Times and then attended a lecture given by a member of the NY State Department of Environmental Conservation about this issue. He was one of the first people to discover the problem, and he was really afraid for the bats.
I'm glad to see that the NRDC is active on this issue too.