The little brown bat and the big white problem
Posted August 12, 2010 in Saving Wildlife and Wild Places
Last week a new study came out that predicts the regional extinction of the little brown bat from the eastern United States due to the emerging fungal pathogen called white-nose syndrome. As we have detailed here in the past, white-nose syndrome is a mysterious disease that has caused the loss of well over a million bats in the northeastern US and is continuing to spread across the country being discovered this summer as far south as Tennessee and as far west as Oklahoma. The little brown bat is one of the most common bat species whose range covers most of North America, but the new study estimates there is a 99% chance that the bat will be gone from the eastern US within 16 years. Those are some pretty big odds.
These findings are striking because the fungus not only continues to colonize new geographic locations, but new host species as well – recently having been discovered on the 9th species of bat in the US. While the new study only looked at the little brown bat, white-nose syndrome is likely to have similarly devastating effects on the other species that it infects. Collectively, this loss of bats is almost certain to have a noticeable effect on the region’s insect populations – including agricultral and forestry pests.
Because these effects carry with them broad economic and environmental consequences, and because the scope of this problem is quickly becoming national rather than regional, we believe that the federal government should have a vested interest in addressing white-nose syndrome quickly and effectively. While the study’s authors suggest erecting bat boxes may help somewhat, there is as yet no easy solution to the white-nose syndrome problem.
The greatest need continues to be funding for research and monitoring which is why NRDC will continue its efforts to call on Congress to provide the necessary resources to address this crisis of national importance. Because according to the little brown bat, there is no time to waste.
Photo credit: USFWS
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Comments
Jennie Cupertino — Aug 13 2010 04:46 PM
What a shame. I agree the goverment should get Involved.
Richard — Aug 13 2010 04:47 PM
I just wanted to say that I agree that the federal government should have a vested interest in this problem. Not only b/c it can provide to be a problem for us but for the bats as well. I feel everything should have equal protection. Not just us
Chris Kees — Aug 13 2010 05:34 PM
YES, I AGREE, THIS MUST BE STOPPED. HOW MANY OTHER SPECIES MAY THIS SPREAD TO? WE NEED TO STOP EPIDEMIC/PANDEMIC DISEASE AND ILLNESS IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM, NOT JUST OURS. NO ONE KNOWS WHEN IT MAY JUST JUMP SPECIES!!!
Linda Blair — Aug 14 2010 03:26 AM
The potential economic effects of losing the bat population is tremendously high. From the need for increased pesticide use to the effects on humans being exposed the the 10's of millions more insects that are currently be controlled by the not so lowly bat.
Magda Zak — Aug 14 2010 09:13 AM
This magnificent planet is working very hard to survive. Human intervention has dramatic effects, there's a study out there that pollinating bees are being affected by microwaves as per cell phones. Blindly we humans manipulate the physical without understanding consequences. These little bats that live on insects, when they are gone insects will become a major problem, so more human intervention and so it continues.
Janet Saltz — Aug 14 2010 09:14 AM
I agree totally with Linda Blair. Imagine the millions upon millions of mosquitos that the bast eat. Without the bat there is more potential that our dogs would become infected with heart worms. Yes, I know there is preventative medicines; but how many people with dogs just can't afford this prevention. It is quite expensive. Then there is would be the increased population of these pest. How will we keep ahead of them?
There needs to be something done to protect these useful creatures.
Luci Little — Aug 14 2010 11:34 AM
This is a sad situation, it seems like we're losing so many species of animals,etc..The oil spill hasn't helped. Hopefully they'll be able to figure out a way to stop this fungusbefore it wipes out the little brown bat's and goes onto infecting another species..Good luck....