Bat Crisis Update

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10/31/2008

Oct. 31, 2008

Bat Crisis Update

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Watch the Video - Dead Bat Mystery »

A new report this week from researchers hunting for the cause of a mysterious bat die-off indicates that a fungus may hold the key to solving the mystery. Writing in the journal Science, researchers report that they have identified a whitish fungus that is associated with the bat die-offs and is the source of the name 'White-Nose Syndrome' attached to the outbreak, which has stricken communities of bats in the Northeast. Researchers report seeing a 75 percent decline in bat populations among many northeastern species -- with bat populations at certain hibernation cites declining by 80 to 97 percent. We'll talk with one of the researchers about the die-offs, the new research on the fungus, and possible causes of the epidemic.

Produced by Christopher Intagliata, Associate Senior Producer

Guests

David S Blehert
Head of Diagnostic Microbiology

United States Geological Survey

National Wildlife Health Center

Madison, Wisconsin

Discussion

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