White-Nose Syndrome in Bats

Pete Pattavina, a biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and a GA-EPPC (Georgia Exotic Pest Plant Council) board member, started cave surveys this week with GA DNR and the Georgia Museum of Natural History.



Nikki Castleberry from the Georgia Museum of Natural History also took part in the survey. She swabbed a tricolored bat (Perimyotis subflavus) for evidence of white-nose syndrome, caused by the fungus Geomyces destructans, most likely of European origin.  

Read more about White-Nose Syndrome in bats

• Science News article "Bat-killing fungus is a European import"
• Research Review article "National Interagency Team MobilizingTo
• Read USDA Firest Service article "Help Us Slow the Spread of White-nose Syndrome"
• Watch the video "The Battle for Bats: White Nose Syndome"