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We have heartbreaking news from biologists monitoring White-nose Syndrome. History's worst bat-killing disease has now spread still farther west. After decimating bat populations in the eastern United States, WNS has now reached Missouri, on the edge of the American Midwest. It is also confirmed in Tennessee, at a cave in Great Smokey Mountain National Park that is home to the state's largest colony of endangered Indiana bats. And White-nose Syndrome has moved northward into Ontario and Quebec in Canada.

Whitenose

 

This terrible disease has killed more than a million bats since it was discovered at a single cave in northern New York State in February 2006. Mortality rates approaching 100 percent are reported at some hibernation sites, and entire colonies have been virtually destroyed. WNS has now spread across 12 U.S. states and biologists fear bats throughout North America are at imminent risk.

White-nose still defies the efforts of top scientists to find a cure or at least a way to slow it tragic spread. Bat Conservation International is working with many concerned partners on the search for solutions. Our White-nose Syndrome Emergency Response Fund supports critical research efforts. But much more is required to stop White-nose Syndrome before it drives bat species into extinction across Canada and the United States.

BCI's WNS grants program has provided initial funding to allow urgent research projects to get under way quickly - in most cases faster than government agencies can respond. We are examining existing research efforts to identify critical gaps in which our funding can have the greatest impact. BCI is also working closely with federal, state and private groups to set guidelines for White-nose Syndrome surveillance, monitoring and mitigation. To support WNS research and other bat conservation initiatives, visit BCI's website.

And for more information about White-nose Syndrome and all of BCI's conservation efforts, visit our website at www.batcon.org.


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