Small But Mighty

Small But Mighty. . , They seem scary to many people, but a world without bats is scarier. Bats eat millions of flying pests each night, helping to control mosquitos and moths and saving farmers billions of dollars in pesticides., White-Nose Syndrome [WNS] Threatened Bat Populations , WNS is a disease causing mass die-offs of bats at hibernation sites, including Fort Delaware. The disease was first detected in the United States in 2006 and killed millions of bats in the first 7 years. Bats affected by WNS have been detected in 33 U.S. states and seven Canada provinces as of 2019, and the disease continues to spread at an alarming rate., WNS is caused by a fungal pathogen called Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd), which grows in cold, dark, and damp places. Pd erodes the bat's skin tissue and causes more frequent arousal during hibernation; resulting in cellular disruptions, dehydration, starvation, and often death., The Spread of White-Nose Syndrome , WNS First Detected in US 2006 , WNS Confirmed , WNS Suspected , Data courtesy of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bats spread the disease, but so can we, and we can take it much farther than bats can. It's easy to help reduce the spread of WNS. In places where bats hibernate: , . Be careful not to rub or touch the walls so you don't pick up the microscopic spores, . Avoid taking the same clothing or personal items from one hibernation site to another, . Follow the directions of on-site staff, What Does WNS Look Like? , Infected bats may have a white growth on their snouts, ears or wings, or may exhibit unusual behavior. However, sometimes they show no visibile signs, and laboratory tests are needed to detect the fungus. , A tri-colored bat with WNS , A northem long-eared bat with WNS, but no visible signs , A little brown bat with wing damage from WNS, US Fish and Wildlife Service , Delaware Division Fish and Wildlife , Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control