As the sun sets over a vast country estate in Snohomish County, Washington state, a group of twelve volunteers congregates around Abby Tobin, a scientist from the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife. “They’ll start becoming restless soon,” Tobin remarks. The team listens attentively as Tobin briefs them on their task: capturing as many bats as possible.
Their objective is to detect signs of the fungus responsible for white-nose syndrome, a disease that has been devastating bat populations in eastern North America for the past 15 years. The fungus, known as Pseudogymnoascus destructans, infects the skin of bats, disrupting their hibernation and leading to dehydration, starvation, and eventual death.
Cori Lausen, a scientist based in British Columbia and dubbed the Bat Lady, is exploring the potential of a probiotic solution to combat the syndrome. According to the B.C. government, white-nose syndrome has claimed over six million bats in eastern North America since 2006.
Anouk Simard, a biologist with Quebec’s Ministry of the Environment, the Fight Against Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks, laments the drastic decline in bat populations in Quebec, with some groups dwindling from thousands to zero individuals within a few years. The severity of the situation is evident, with some caves that once housed hundreds of bats now nearly empty.
White-nose syndrome has been detected in neighboring Alberta and in Washington state, but not yet in bats in British Columbia. Lausen emphasizes that the winter months, when bats hibernate collectively, are crucial for the onset of white-nose syndrome symptoms.
Bats play a vital role in controlling pests, with a single bat capable of consuming a significant amount of insects in a night. Their natural pest control abilities help reduce the need for harmful pesticides, benefiting farmers, the environment, and food security.
A study published in the academic journal Science in 2024 highlighted a potential eight percent increase in human infant mortality rates in regions affected by white-nose syndrome due to increased pesticide use as bat populations decline. Lausen stresses the importance of addressing not only white-nose syndrome but also threats like habitat loss and wind turbines.
In efforts to protect bats, Lausen has developed a probiotic cocktail containing four bacterial strains that suppress the fungus causing white-nose syndrome. Early indications suggest promising results, with the probiotic potentially aiding bats in fighting off the deadly fungus.
Lausen’s innovative approach has garnered praise from American researchers, who are collaborating to test the effectiveness of her probiotic cocktail. In Snohomish County, volunteers work diligently to capture bats for examination, seeking to identify symptoms of white-nose syndrome and traces of the probiotic solution.
The challenges in monitoring and treating bats in western regions underscore the urgency of finding effective solutions before it’s too late. Western bat populations’ elusive nature, preferring to hibernate in secluded spots, poses a unique challenge in detecting and addressing white-nose syndrome impacts.
The tireless efforts of scientists like Lausen highlight the importance of preserving bat populations and the critical role they play in maintaining ecological balance. As the battle against white-nose syndrome continues, researchers remain committed to safeguarding these valuable creatures.
