National Geographic: Security colony set up for bats stalked by killer fungus


Photo credit: West Virginia Division of Natural Resources



An estimated million bats have died in the northeastern United States from white-nose syndrome, a disease characterized by a white cold-loving fungus that invades the skin of the bat. Named for a distinctive ring of fungal growth around the muzzle, the disease also infests ears and wings. The bats lose their fat reserves and ultimately starve. The relentless spread of the white-nose syndrome has alarmed biologists and conservationists, especially as colonies of rare indigenous species come into its path. Last November, the Smithsonian's National Zoo accepted 40 endangered Virginia big-eared bats (Corynorhinus townsendii virginianus) to establish a security population and scientifically develop husbandry practices—a feat no one else has undertaken with this subspecies, the zoo said in a recent news statement.
Follow these links to learn more about White-Nose Syndrome:

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    Posted by WILDNEWJERSEY at 3/15/2010 7:00 AM
    Categories: Bats
    Tags: bats smithsonian virginia big eared bats white-nose syndrome fungues
     

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