White Nose Syndrome (WNS) Bats

Project Description: This project includes observations about sightings or symptoms of white-nose syndrome (WNS) in Alaskan bats.

Situation Awareness: According to an article in Alaska Dispatch News (2016-04-01), "White-nose syndrome, a fungus-related disease that has spread westward after wiping out millions of bats in the U.S. Northeast and in eastern Canada, is now in Washington state – and could jump to Alaska."

"'Up to now, the westernmost documentation of the disease was in the Midwest, meaning it has made a 1,300-mile leap across the continent, said Karen Blejwas, a wildlife biologist and bat specialist with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game [ADF&G]. “It’s really unexpected, because this is by far the largest jump the disease has ever made since it was discovered in 2006,” she said. Blejwas said Fish and Game had already been working with other government agencies and organizations to try to prepare for the spread of the disease into Alaska. Now that work is accelerated, she said. Officials will be asking the public “to keep an eye out for bad bats on the landscape,” she said.

See article by Yereth Rosen: Discovery of bat disease in Washington state alarms Alaska biologists

Range: Eastern Canada, Northeastern U.S., Midwest, Washington State.

Project Leads:

• Karen Blejwas, Wildlife Biologist, (ADF&G)
• Marian Snively, Wildlife Biologist, (ADF&G)

Start date: April 5, 2016.

LEO Guidance: There is no evidence of White Nose Syndrome (WNS) spreading to Alaska yet (6-20-16) . So this is a "Surveillance" project where we ask for LEO Network member help to watch for these emerging diseases and hopefully catch them early. LEO Network is looking for observations providing evidence of WNS in Alaska bat species. Here is how you can help: if you are observing bats, send us your observations and photos; we are particularly interested in bat health. If you see a bat flying out in the open during the day, it is probably unwell. If you find a dead or injured bat, avoid touching the animal with your bare hands - use rubber gloves, or turn a plastic baggie inside out before handling the bat. If the bat is dead, double bag it. Avoid freezing the bat if it is not smelly or in a state of decay, but keep it cool. Immediately contact Karen Blejwas (Southeast) or Marian Snively (rest of the state) to report the find. Learn more checkout, Living With Bats - ADF&G.

Resource:

Alaska Department of Fish & Game – What to do if you find a dead bat or a bat behaving abnormally – "If a person or pet was BITTEN/SCRATCHED/EXPOSED TO SALIVA from the bat, contact the Alaska Section of Epidemiology immediately: Mon - Fri 8am - 5pm: (907) 269-8000 | After Hours: (800) 478-0084."

State of Alaska Epidemiology Bulletin – Update on Bat Rabies in Alaska – "Rabies does occur in bats. If you see a dead or sick bat, refer to this bulletin's, Recommendations, of 5 steps to take before handling them (bats and rabies)." Source: Department of Health and Social Services, Bulletin No. 9 | April 20, 2016

WHITE-NOSE SYNDROME.org – A Coordinated Response to the Devastating Bat Disease – "Explore our site to find up-to-date information about white-nose syndrome, a deadly disease that affects North American bats. We bring together an extensive group of state, federal, tribal, university, and non-governmental partners to help minimize the impacts of white-nose syndrome."

Media:

BBC NEWS, Science & Environment (2016-03-09) - Asian bats show resistance to deadly white-nose syndrome: "Researchers have found new clues about the deadly white-nose syndrome, a disease that has wiped out millions of bats in North America. White nose syndrome (WNS) is the name given to the bat disease caused by exposure to the fungus, Pseudogymnoascus destructans. The fungus thrives in the cold, damp caves frequented by bats. Recent research indicates that it most likely originated in Europe and was carried to North America by humans. Since the disease first appeared in the US in 2006, it has caused mass die-offs of bats, with an estimated six million dead so far." By Matt McGrath

CBC NEWS (2016-04-06) - Yukon biologist watching for signs of disease deadly to bats: "A Yukon biologist will be keeping a close eye on bat populations this summer, after researchers say a devastating fungal disease has moved west and has been found in Seattle. White-nose syndrome is already wiping out bat colonies in eastern Canada and the U.S."

CBC NEWS (2016-10-08) - Bat biologists in Yukon and B.C. brace for arrival of deadly white-nose syndrome: "Biologists on Canada's western coast are bracing for the arrival of a deadly disease called white-nose syndrome in British Columbia and Yukon's bats, but a number of mysteries mean the disease's impact is still unclear."