Larger bats that hibernate in cold, dry sites might be most likely to survive infection by the often-deadly white-nose syndrome fungus, according to a study released today in Science Advances

From the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS):

Larger bats that hibernate in cold, dry sites might be most likely to survive infection by the often-deadly white-nose syndrome fungus, according to a study released today in Science Advances. White-nose syndrome is a fungal disease of hibernating bats that has caused devastating bat population declines in North America since the disease was identified in 2007. Yet some bats survive. USGS bat ecologist Paul Cryan, a study co-author, notes that “keeping a close eye on the survivors and the places they hang out may be our best chance of finding a good way to help these bats.” Insect-eating bats save farmers billions of dollars each year by providing natural pest suppression. This research may help predict species and populations most likely to decline from WNS, assist in finding sites where bats are more likely to survive the disease, and aid in protecting the hibernation sites most suitable for survival. For more, visithttp://bit.ly/1OV6hpX

Photo: Little brown bats in NY hibernation cave. Note the fungal growth on their muzzles.Photo courtesy of Nancy Nancy Heaslip, New York Department of Environmental Conservation