$40,000 Grant Awarded to MN to Combat White Nose Syndrome in Bats

The disease has been killing millions of bats across the country

A $40,000 grant has been awarded to Minnesota from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to research and develop a response to white-nose syndrome (WNS) in bats. This disease which is caused by a fungus from Eurasia, invades the skin of hibernating bats and disrupts their hydration and hibernation cycles, and has been killing millions of bats across the country.

Minnesota’s first confirmed cases of WNS were reported in March of 2016 at the Lake Vermilion-Soudan Underground Mine State Park.

The grant will fund efforts to look for the fungus, carry out decontamination procedures at state caves and mines, monitor bat populations and write conservation plans.

The Minnesota grant announced today by USFWS is part of nearly $1 million to natural resources agencies in 34 states and the District of Columbia to combat this disease.