The USGS National Wildlife Health Center is one of the 4 websites we always refer people to when they want to know more facts about WNS. The other 3 are (of course) BCI (http://www.batcon.org/index.php/what-we-do/white-nose-syndrome.html?utm _source=internal&utm_medium=five_icon&utm_campaign=White-nose%2BSyndrome ), the NSS (http://caves.org/WNS/index.htm), and the US Fish and Wildlife Service (http://www.fws.gov/WhiteNoseSyndrome/).
Texas is working on a WNS action plan, but it hasn't been finalized and released yet. When they do, collecting baseline data and monitoring will be a big part of their strategy. I'm not sure where the info below came from, but there isn't a system in place yet for volunteer cavers to go out and start collecting data. FYI, the plural of "hibernaculum" is "hibernacula." Just like "aquaria", "terraria", "data", and similar words. -- Jim From: Geary Schindel [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Monday, May 23, 2011 7:52 AM To: [email protected]; Jim Kennedy Subject: FW: white nose syndrome in bats Here is a link that was sent to me today by one of my coworkers regarding White Nose Syndrome. Jim K., any comments? Geary http://www.nwhc.usgs.gov/disease_information/white-nose_syndrome/ Hey, check out the link above. Texas Parks and Wildlife is asking for help in monitoring this fungal infection that is killing off large numbers of hibernating bats. It hasn't reached Texas yet that we know of, but it has been found in Oklahoma and is on its way south. You guys go to a lot of sites where there are bat hibernaculums, so you can keep an eye out. All of the symptoms are listed on this website as well as how to send a specimen for testing if WNS is suspected at a bat colony. Texas Parks and Wildlife has also asked that if anyone goes to a hibernaculum, to give them a call and let them know that you were there. They don't have enough guys to monitor all of the hibernaculums in Texas, so any help that they can get is great for them. Pass this along. Thanks!!
