Bat White-Nose Syndrome in North America

Abstract

In 2007 bats in eastern North America began dying in unprecedented numbers from a previously undocumented disease, now called white-nose syndrome (WNS). Although the ecological and economic impacts of this disease are not fully elucidated, this severe loss of insectivorous bats threatens decreased crop yields, forest defoliation, and a rise in insect-borne diseases. The recent emergence of WNS in bats of eastern North America, its rapid spread, and the severity of the outbreak highlight the importance of wildlife disease as an integral component of ecosystem health.