US bat species devastated by fungus now listed as endangered

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By JOHN FLESHER 23 minutes ago

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP) — The Biden administration declared the northern long-eared bat endangered on Tuesday in a last-ditch effort to save a species driven to the brink of extinction by white-nose syndrome, a fungal disease.

“White-nose syndrome is decimating cave-dwelling bat species like the northern long-eared bat at unprecedented rates,” said Martha Williams, director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The agency is “deeply committed to working with partners on a balanced approach that reduces the impacts of disease and protects the survivors to recover northern long-eared bat populations,” she said.

First documented in the U.S. in 2006, the disease has infected 12 types of bats and killed millions. The northern long-eared bat is among the hardest hit, with estimated declines of 97% or higher in affected populations. The bat is found in 37 eastern and north-central states, plus Washington, D.C., and much of Canada.



FILE - This undated photo provided by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources shows a northern long-eared bat. On Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2022, the Biden administration declared the northern long-eared bat endangered, a last-ditch effort to save a species driven to the brink of extinction by a deadly fungus. This is the third species of bat recommended for the designation this year due to white-nose syndrome. (Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources via AP, File)

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/northern-long-eared-bat-endangered-a95ee172d6ffd7b313109b5ae5961792?utm_source=homepage&utm_medium=TopNews&utm_campaign=position_07

[Mysterian]

1. Very sad

I hope they can recover somehow from this awful fungus.

[TeamProg]

2. Outlaw spelunking, NOW !! n/t

[The Jungle 1]

4. We put up grating on the local caves.

I think the bats are still dying.
Maybe we could get the bats to drink bleach. snark

[FakeNoose]

3. The AP article doesn't say that humans are causing the extinction

[Wicked Blue]

5. I haven't seen a bat in years

Our little brown bats seem to have died of white-nose syndrome.
This is why we are inundated with mosquitoes.

[WestMichRad]

6. Significant impact on tree cutting

Depending on what the exact regulations are, of course… but one measure to protect their habitat is to prohibit tree removal within a quarter mile radius of any known maternity roost tree during pup rearing time (approximately the full months of June and July in our northern states). On public owned land, this greatly slows any tree cutting, as an assessment must be completed prior to start of any cutting.

And that’s a good thing, in my opinion.