<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">I am the current Forest Service lead
for white-nose syndrome (WNS) and this is just the tip of the iceberg.
I suspect all hell is going to break loose in the next six weeks.
If the pattern from the past 3 years holds true, we will start seeing
mass mortalities reported from mid-February until the end of March. There
are already numerous reports of bats flying during the day in the dead
of winter in New England and mid-Atlantic states. This is one of
the indicators of a WNS affected hibernation site. Two recently published
studies from New England indicate a 73% decline in summer bat activity
when compared to pre WNS levels. This is almost identical to the
winter population declines documented over the past 3 winters. Some
sites have lost 99.9% of the wintering bats. </font>
<br>
<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">There is also a growing body of evidence
suggesting the fungus that causes WNS is an invasive species from Europe.
European bats have been observed with white fungus on their noses
in winter for decades and their bats are perfectly healthy. Genetics
research is indicating the North American fungal samples and European fungal
samples are identical. Bats don't fly across the Atlantic so it is
highly likely this came over on a human. I've attached the latest
map of the fungus if you are interested in the spread. We have already
added 3 counties this winter.</font>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">Dennis L. Krusac<br>
Endangered Species Specialist<br>
USDA Forest Service, Southern Region<br>
Suite 816 North, 1720 Peachtree Road, NW<br>
Atlanta, GA 30309<br>
404-347-4338; 404-347-4154 (fax); 404-660-4377 (cell)<br>
dkrusac@fs.fed.us<br>
<br>
"What is the use of a house if you haven't got a tolerable planet
to put it on?" Henry David Thoreau<br>
<br>
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<td width=40%><font size=1 face="sans-serif"><b>Ladadams@aol.com</b> </font>
<br><font size=1 face="sans-serif">Sent by: pollinator-bounces+dkrusac=fs.fed.us@lists.sonic.net</font>
<p><font size=1 face="sans-serif">02/03/2011 05:35 PM</font>
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<div align=right><font size=1 face="sans-serif">To</font></div>
<td><font size=1 face="sans-serif">pollinator@nappc.org</font>
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<div align=right><font size=1 face="sans-serif">cc</font></div>
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<div align=right><font size=1 face="sans-serif">Subject</font></div>
<td><font size=1 face="sans-serif">[Pollinator] Fwd: White Nose in Indianna</font></table>
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<br>
<br><font size=2 face="Arial">From: Clock-Rust.Mary@epamail.epa.gov<br>
To: lda@pollinator.org<br>
Sent: 2/2/2011 11:25:11 A.M. Pacific Standard Time<br>
Subj: White Nose in Indianna</font>
<br><font size=2 face="Arial"> </font>
<br><font size=2 face="Arial"><br>
Not sure if this has been sent around yet....<br>
.....bummer.<br>
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</font><a href=http://www.theindychannel.com/news/26696889/detail.html><font size=2 face="Arial">http://www.theindychannel.com/news/26696889/detail.html<br>
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