I Didn't Know That!: Protecting Bats from White-Nose Syndrome

Bats may not be at the top of the list of cute charismatic wildlife, but there are so many reasons to love them. In fact, we actually have a list of 20 reasons to appreciate bats! They do cool things like help agriculture, eat insects, and inspire vigilante superheroes. But they need our help. A deadly fungal disease, white-nose syndrome, poses a real danger to our night flying friends. And you can help!

A bat with White-Nose Syndrome.

NPS Photo

What is White-Nose Syndrome?

White-nose syndrome (WNS) is a fungal disease killing bats in North America. It is caused by a fungus (Pseudogymnoascus destructans) which infects bats during hibernation over winter. The fungus damages the wings and causes bats to become more active than usual. As a result, they burn up the fat that they need to survive the winter.

The disease is called White-Nose syndrome because the fungus sometimes looks like white fuzz around a bat’s nose and mouth.

Did you know?

White Nose Syndrome has killed millions of bats in North America, and it continues to spread. Bats with WNS have been confirmed in the majority of states and providences in Canada. See a map of the current spread. 

How is White-Nose Syndrome Spread?

WNS is spread by physical contact between bats. Bats can also pick up the fungus from the surfaces of the place where they’re hibernating. Although WNS doesn’t infect humans, people can spread the fungus by accidentally carrying the fungus on shoes, clothing, or gear that have been in caves or other sites used by hibernating bats. So, it's really important to not bring clothing or gear into a WNS-free site that was previously used in a WNS-affected site.

A Mexican Free-tailed Bat flies in search of insects to eat.

NPS / BT Hamilton

Why Do Bats Matter?

We have many reasons to be thankful for bats. They provide inspiration for advances in technology, they support cave communities, and they even help bring us some of our most tasty treats (like coffee and chocolate)! There are more than 45 unique species of bats living in national parks and different species provide different benefits. They:

• Support cave communities with their nutrient-rich guano (poop),

• Provide insect control – in fact, they add up to $3.7 billion worth of pest control in the U.S. each year,

• Pollinate plants, and

• Are prey to other animals.

A tri-colored bat hangs from a rock outcropping at Russell Cave National Monument.

NPS Photo

What Can You Do?

You don’t have to be a caver to help protect bats from White-Nose Syndrome. Casual explorers and climbers visiting rock crevices, caves, mines, tunnels, bridges or other place where bats are found can take precautions to help bats too.

Help bats everywhere. Clean your gear and outerwear!

Check the map at www.whitenosesyndrome.org for affected areas and follow local rules for the places you are visiting. Never take clothes, footwear or equipment used to explore places where bats hang out in a WNS-affected area to an unaffected area, not even gear that has been decontaminated.

Scrape dirt and debris from clothes, footwear, and equipment that touched the ground or other surfaces before leaving. Remove as much as you can. If possible, place dirty items in a plastic bag to keep your other gear and vehicle clean.

Wash hands, clothes, footwear, and any equipment that touched the ground or walls promptly with hot water and soap. If you will be visiting multiple places where bats hang out, learn how to decontaminate your gear.

Protect bats and yourself by enjoying bats from a distance. Do not disturb hibernating bats and never touch a bat. If you do accidentally have physical contact with a bat (or wake up in a room with a bat), talk to your doctor as soon as possible. Although less than 1% of bats in the wild have rabies, it is a serious infection that is almost always fatal but is very preventable with post-exposure treatment.

Learn about and celebrate bats during Bat Week each year! Bat Week is celebrated during the last week in October. It’s a time to learn about bats and spread awareness of the threats facing bats.

Pass It On!

Did you learn something new? Pass it on! Protecting wildlife is a job for us all, but there's no way for everyone to be an expert in everything. That's why sharing knowledge is so important! Help others protect bats from White-Nose Syndrome by sharing these precautions.

Download or screenshot this card to share with a friend or help you remember how to safely explore places where bats are found. Thank you for staying safe and recreating responsibly while enjoying your parks.

Check out other I Didn't Know That! topics.

Text description of infographic

I Didn't Know That! Protecting Bats from White-Nose Syndrome

There are lots of reasons to appreciate bats!

• They help agriculture, eat insects, and inspire technology and even fictional superheroes. 

A deadly fungal disease, white-nose syndrome, poses a real danger to bats. 

• White-nose syndrome (WNS) has been found in the majority of US states and provinces in Canada.

Cavers, casual explorers, and climbers can help bats!

• When visiting rock crevices, mines, tunnels, bridges, and other places where bats are found.

What you can do:

• Check the WNS map. Never take gear from an infected area to an uninfected area.

• Wash hands, clothes, & get with hot water & soap.

• Scrape dirt and debris from hands, clothing, and gear.

• Protect bats & yourself by enjoying bats from a distance.

• Celebrate and learn about bats during Bat Week.

go.nps.gov.idkt