white nose syndrome

white nose syndrome has nothing to do with your friends from the 80's: it is a very serious infection wiping out 80-90% of bat populations in the northeastern united states, and threatening to move southward. just so you know: bats are cool! and useful: they eat their body weight in insects every night. this drastic reduction of over one million bats by white nose syndrome is estimated to increase the insect population 2.4 million pounds by next spring's growing season, leading to more pesticide use by farmer's and therefore higher prices for produce: not good! there is nothing you can do yet because scientists don't know what causes this fungus to grow on bat's noses, ears and wings. the u.s. fish and wildlife service received $800,000 in grants last week to research possible causes and solutions for the syndrome. no more caving for now, though: that is where the sick bats hibernate.