Investigating and managing the rapid emergence of White-Nose Syndrome, a novel, fatal, infectious disease of hibernating bats

Product Type: Journal Article

Year: 2011

Author(s): Foley, J., D. Clifford, K. Castle, P. Cryan, R.S. Ostfeld

Suggested Citation:
Foley, J., D. Clifford, K. Castle, P. Cryan, R.S. Ostfeld. 2011. Investigating and managing the rapid emergence of White-Nose Syndrome, a novel, fatal, infectious disease of hibernating bats. Conservation Biology 25(2): 223-231.

Abstract

White-nose syndrome (WNS) is a fatal disease of bats that hibernate. The etiologic agent of WNS is the fungus Geomyces destructans, which infects the skin and wing membranes. Over 1 million bats in six species in eastern North America have died from WNS since 2006, and as a result several species of bats may become endangered or extinct…