New Fungus Linked to Bat Die-Offs

Scientists probe mass deaths in caves

By Peter Fearon, Newser Staff

Posted Oct 31, 2008 9:55 AM CDT

(Newser) – Scientists have identified a new fungus that might be responsible for the mass deaths of bats in the Northeast. If the findings are borne out, they could help researchers understand and eventually stop the contagion—dubbed white-nose syndrome—that has wiped out entire colonies in their caves, the Los Angeles Times reports.

"I have been studying bats for 40-plus years, and this is unparalleled in the history of what I know about bats," said a Boston University biologist. Similar colony collapses have occurred among bees and frogs. "These are all canaries in the mine that we need to pay attention to," said another researcher.

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Bats in an abandoned mine in Rosendale, New York. Bats are mysteriously dying off by the thousands and now scientists have a clue to the cause. (AP Photo/Mike Groll)

Scientists look for bats in an abandoned mine. Bats are mysteriously dying off by the thousands and researchers have new evidence about the cause. (AP Photo/Mike Groll)

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The fungus is in some way involved in causing the bats to starve to death They are burning up too many calories, at a rate faster than they can sustain. - Thomas Tomasi, biologist,
Missouri State University

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New Fungus Linked to Bat Die-Offs