Louisiana has avoided an outbreak of powdery fungus for a long time. Bat populations have been decimatedAll over the country. This is the case, at least until now.
Louisiana was the first state to confirm the existence of the fungus that causes white nose syndrome in bats. Department of Wildlife and FisheriesThis week, it was announced. During last year’s sampling, scientists discovered the fungus in Brazilian free-tailed bats from Shreveport to Alexandria in Natchitoches Parish.
Although white-nose syndrome is not harmful to humans, it can be deadly for bats. White-nose syndrome, which is considered one of the most dangerous wildlife diseases in modern times has killed more 6 million bats in North America. It was first discovered in a New York cave in 15 years.
Tri-colored bat infected by white-nose syndrome in a Jackson County cave, Ala.
This mysterious and incurable disease was discovered in 37 states and seven Canadian provinces. According to Nikki Anderson (a biologist with U.S.), it is likely Louisiana will soon join that list. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Although the Natchitoches bats that were found to have the fungus did not show any symptoms, white-nose syndrome is a common condition. It usually develops between three and five years after it is first discovered. The fungus causes irritation and lesions in the skin of hibernating bats, causing them to wake up and fly around when they should be sleeping. This increased activity leads to exhaustion, dehydration and rapid loss in fat reserves.
The disease thrives under cool, damp conditions. It is most common in bats hibernating in caves or other enclosures.
Anderson said that the good news is that Louisiana stays warm most year. That could help bats in future. Anderson said that the disease has already been killing bats in Mississippi, Arkansas, and Texas – three states around Louisiana – so it is likely that Louisiana’s bats will be affected.
It is bad news for anyone who likes to eat food and dislikes mosquito bites. According to the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), bats provide U.S. farmers with $4 billion worth free pest control each and every year. They target moths and other insects which eat different food crops. Bats are also able to take out disease-spreading insects such as mosquitoes.
Anderson said that we have plenty mosquitoes in this area. We don’t have any more.
Seven out of 12 Louisiana bat species are susceptible. Three of them – the tri-colored big brown, northern long-eared and northern tri-colored bats – can develop white nose syndrome.
A bat from King County (Wash.) with symptoms of white-nose syndrome wing injury.
According to a study, the disease has claimed the lives of approximately 90% of long-eared and tri-colored people in less than a decade. Recent multi-state studyBy the USFWS, and the U.S. Geological Survey.
Federal wildlife managers have proposed that the long-eared bat receive increased protection from the disease due to the rapid death of the species.
Nobody knows where the fungus is coming from or how it can be stopped. Wildlife managers focus mainly on trying to stop the spread of the fungus. For example, those who visit caves within national parks are asked to disinfect their shoes after exiting.
Anderson stated that it is a complicated disease. Anderson said that the federal government has funded treatment studies for years but nothing has been found.
They were nearly extinct in the 1960s, 70s, because so many were taken to soup.
It first came for your wetlands. Now it’s coming for your rice and crawfish.
One is a softball-sized gastropod that can wipe away rice fields and crawfish pools
This work is supported by a Walton Family Foundation grant and administered by Society of Environmental Journalists.
Tristan Baurick: [email protected]; on Twitter: @tristanbaurick.
