Lethal Disease Has Nearly Wiped Out Northern Long-Eared Bats

"The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says white-nose syndrome has driven 97 to 100 percent population decline"

"Fifteen years after its was first discovered in a New York cave, white-nose syndrome has decimated the nation’s population of northern long-eared bats, reducing their numbers to almost nothing.

On Tuesday, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service moved to reclassify the mammals from threatened to endangered after a review found that “white-nose syndrome is expected to affect 100 percent” of the animals by 2025. “White-nose syndrome has caused estimated declines of 97 to 100 percent of affected … populations,” the review said.

Fifteen years after its was first discovered in a New York cave, white-nose syndrome has decimated the nation’s population of northern long-eared bats, reducing their numbers to almost nothing.

On Tuesday, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service moved to reclassify the mammals from threatened to endangered after a review found that “white-nose syndrome is expected to affect 100 percent” of the animals by 2025. “White-nose syndrome has caused estimated declines of 97 to 100 percent of affected … populations,” the review said."

Darryl Fears reports for the Washington Post March 22, 2022.