Wildlife

Wild Bat White-Nose Syndrome Advanced

White-nose syndrome caused by Pseudogymnoascus destructans has killed over 7 million North American bats, with welfare implications for a keystone nocturnal predator.

Key Facts

Pd fungus grows on bat skin during hibernation, causing premature arousal and starvation
Little brown bats have suffered population declines exceeding 90 percent at affected roosts
Probiotic treatments using Rhodotorula mucilaginosa have shown promise in field trials
European bats have coexisted with Pd for millennia with acquired immunity
Decontamination protocols for cavers and researchers help slow geographic spread

Welfare Considerations

Bats dying from WNS experience repeated arousal from hibernation, burning through fat reserves, before dying of starvation and hypothermia. Billions of individual animals have suffered this fate since 2006.

What You Can Do

Follow decontamination protocols if visiting caves in WNS-affected areas
Support probiotic and vaccine research programs targeting WNS treatment
Donate to bat conservation organizations working on WNS solutions