Bat population in dramatic decline

The bat population in Connecticut has declined dramatically due to white nose syndrome, the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection announced.

"Several species of bats living in Connecticut have been devastated by white nose syndrome, so much so that in 2015, three species were listed as endangered on the list of endangered species , threatened and worrying about Connecticut, "said DEEP.

Species added to the list of endangered species are the little brown bat, the northern bat (which is also threatened by the federal government) and the tricolor bats.

The disease affects bats in hibernation and is caused by a fungus. The fungus resembles white down on the face of a bat and grows in cold, dark, damp places. It attacks the bare skin during the hibernation of bats. Growing up, bats become more active and burn the fat they need to survive in the winter.

Bats with white nose syndrome may have strange behavior, including flying outside during the day in winter.

The white nose syndrome has been discovered in 33 US states, including Connecticut, and seven Canadian provinces.

The first widespread signs of white nose syndrome appeared in caves near Albany, New York, in 2007. But photographs of cave explorers from 2006 show what could have been the first undocumented case of this syndrome in North America.

Science was unknown to science until it was discovered in bats in North America. It continues to spread rapidly throughout the country and Canada, mainly through bat-to-bat contact. A map showing the confirmed locations of the disease can be found at whitenosesyndrome.org/static-page/wns-spread-maps.

In some areas of North America, white nose syndrome has killed 90 to 100% of bats; millions of bats across the country have been killed by the disease. The most affected species seems to be the northern bat, the little brown bat and the tricolor bat.

At present, there is no cure for white nose syndrome. Scientists around the world are struggling to study the disease, its spread, infection and disease control. Several experimental treatments, including a vaccine and the evolution of bat habitat, are underway and are expected to result in an increased survival rate of bats against the disease.

Any observation of bats during the winter should be reported to the Connecticut Wildlife Division to help monitor white nose syndrome. More information can be found at https://go.usa.gov/xPmDn.

Bats are essential to healthy ecosystems. Bats provide economic benefits to agriculture and forestry by controlling insects.