Question 2 of 21

When does white nose syndrome (WNS) affect bats?

... WNS strikes bats during hibernation. It is found in 20 states in the northeastern and central U.S. and in four Canadian provinces.

Question 3 of 21

What causes WNS?

... The fungus Geomyces destructans, which thrives in cold weather, infects the nose, ears and wings of bats.

Question 4 of 21

In the northeastern U.S., what percentage of the bat population has been harmed by WNS?

... According to the U.S. Coast Guard, the population of bats has decreased 80 percent in the northeast. Species recovery will be slow, because most adult females have only one pup each year.

Question 5 of 21

What bat behavior at hibernation sites is characteristic of WNS?

... Besides the appearance of the white fungus, bats with the disease will take uncharacteristic daytime flights. They may also move toward the opening of their caves. These additional, unusual behaviors during hibernation can quickly deplete the bats' stored body fat.

Question 6 of 21

Although the full economic and ecological impacts of WNS are not yet known, it is very likely that which industry will be significantly affected?

... In the geographical areas affected, bats are the number one consumer of insects. This could have a serious impact on farms; the U.S. Coast Guard reports that bats' feeding habits supply billions of dollars of service to the agriculture industry annually.

Question 7 of 21

The syndrome appears to be spreading; the fungus has been found as far west as _________.

... Although the most devastating effects have been found in the eastern U.S. and Canada, the fungus has been found in Oklahoma too.

Question 8 of 21

There is some evidence that __________ may help spread WNS.

... Human activity in caves and mines might be extending the reach of the disease. Some caves and abandoned mines where bats hibernate have been closed. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has also requested that cavers not wear clothing from previous expeditions into locations where WNS has not been found.

Question 9 of 21

How many endangered species are in the areas affected by WNS?

... Out of the 45 species of bats in the U.S., half hibernate. Eleven of the hibernating species live in the affected areas. This includes four species that are endangered: the gray bat, the Virginia big-eared bat, the Indiana bat and the Ozarks big-eared bat.

Question 10 of 21

Which of the following is suspected of spreading the disease?

... Bats that hibernate close to each other are more likely to be affected. The more social a species is, the quicker the syndrome spreads.

Question 11 of 21

When the WNS fungus is on a bat's wing, it is hypothesized that it can impact _______.

... The bat's wing is a large part of its body, so injury to it can severely impact the animal's health, including blood flow, water retention, body temperature and electrolyte balance.

Question 12 of 21

What effect has WNS had on bats in Europe?

... Although the fungus has been found in France, Germany, Switzerland and Hungary, bats that carry it have not fallen ill. It is hypothesized that European species may be immune, or that perhaps there is a yet-unidentified, intervening variable that causes the North American bats to die from the syndrome.

Question 13 of 21

What, specifically, is the ultimate cause of death for bats with WNS?

... The affected bats do not have enough body fat to carry them through winter into spring, so they starve. Their emaciated bodies lack the energy resources to keep them alive during hibernating months.

Question 14 of 21

As of 2012, how many bats have died from the syndrome in the U.S. and Canada?

... More than 5.5 million bats have died from WNS in the northeastern and central U.S. and Canada. It has been the most devastating wildlife disease on record.

Question 15 of 21

The U.S. Department of the Interior reports that, as of 2011, the bats that have died from WNS would have eaten about _______ tons of insects annually.

... A joint research study between American and South African universities suggested that the bats that had died in the U.S. and Canada could have consumed approximately 8,000 tons (7,257 metric tons) of insects each year.

Question 16 of 21

The population of little brown bats, though severely impacted, may be starting to recover. The bats have changed their behavior; they now __________________.

... Little brown bats are becoming less social; they now live in smaller groups and tend to roost by themselves. This limited contact may slow the spread of the disease.

Question 17 of 21

What percentage of National Park Service (NPS) sites have caves?

... Twenty-five percent of NPS sites have caves; one-third of the sites have mines. Bats use both as hibernation locations.

Question 18 of 21

As of 2012, what is the transmission frequency of WNS from bats to humans?

... There are no known cases of the fungus traveling from bat to human.

Question 19 of 21

What is the typical life expectancy of bats?

... Bats are considered long-lived wild species because they generally live from five to 15 years.

Question 20 of 21

When was the fungus associated with WNS first identified as a specific species?

... "Geomyces destructans" had never been isolated until 2008. Research into identifying it was conducted by numerous agencies, including the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the New York State Department of Health, Cornell University and the U.S. Coast Guard.

Question 21 of 21

Who was the first person to document WNS?

... In 2006, a person exploring a cave near Albany, N.Y. took photos of hibernating bats with the telltale white noses. Biologists from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation began recording evidence of the disease by the next winter.

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