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Race to Cure Bat Disease Spreading North
13 Aug
Summary
- White-nose syndrome fungus found in Canada's northernmost bat caves.
- Millions of bats killed across North America by the fungus.
- Experimental probiotic treatment shows promising results for bats.
Bat experts expressed shock as white-nose syndrome, a deadly fungal disease, rapidly spread to Canada's northernmost bat colonies near Fort Smith. The fungus, Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd), has devastated North American bat populations, causing over 6.7 million deaths since its arrival in New York in 2007.
Biologists discovered the fungus in a cave in the Northwest Territories, a region previously surveyed for healthy bat populations. The disease attacks hibernating bats, causing them to burn through vital fat reserves and die from starvation or dehydration. Smaller species like the little brown bat and northern long-eared bat are particularly at risk.
Despite the grim prognosis, researchers are cautiously optimistic. The cooler temperatures in northern caves may slow the fungus's growth, and an experimental probiotic treatment is showing promising results in trials. This probiotic aims to boost bats' natural resilience to the infection.
Wildfires in 2023 also complicated the situation, destroying bat habitats and potentially increasing the spread of the disease. Further research is planned for the following spring to assess the bats' survival and the effectiveness of mitigation efforts.
