[Pollinator] White Nose Challenge - Deadline approaching

[Savignano, Dolores]

A reminder - deadline of Dec. 31 approaching


The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is announcing a $100,000 challenge to
combat white-nose syndrome (WNS), a lethal fungal disease that has killed
millions of bats in North America and pushed some native bat species to the
brink of extinction. Awards will be given to individuals or teams who
identify innovative ways to permanently eradicate, weaken, or disarm the
fungus.

You don’t have to be a bat expert to enter the White-nose Syndrome
Challenge. This opportunity is open to anyone with an innovative idea for
tools or techniques that will lead to solutions to reduce the effects of
the fungus without harming other beneficial species or the environment.

White-nose syndrome is caused by a fungus that sometimes looks like white
fuzz on bats' faces and wings. The fungus thrives in cold, damp places and
infects bats during hibernation. It disrupts bats’ winter dormancy, causing
them to expend too much energy stored in their fat and often resulting in
dehydration and starvation before spring arrives.

Since 2007, white-nose syndrome has been confirmed in 33 states and seven
Canadian provinces. At some affected sites, 90 to 100 percent of bats have
disappeared, most succumbing to the disease.

There is no known cure for white-nose syndrome, but scientists worldwide
are working together to study the disease and how it can be controlled.
Winning ideas from this challenge will be the focus of future
collaborations with scientists, designers and engineers to bring solutions
to life.

The deadline for individuals or teams to enter the Challenge is December
31, 2019 by 11:59 p.m. ET.  For additional information regarding rules and
eligibility, visit the White-nose Syndrome Challenge web page
<https://www.whitenosesyndrome.org/static-page/white-nose-syndrome-challenge>
or www.challenge.gov.


The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will hold an informational briefing for
anyone interested in entering the Challenge on Nov. 20, 2019 at 2 p.m. ET.
Advance registration is required. For more information, please visit
the White-nose
Syndrome Challenge web-page
<https://www.whitenosesyndrome.org/static-page/white-nose-syndrome-challenge>
.

Please help us to spread the word about the Challenge by sharing this email
and attached flyer with your peers, contacts, networks and the public.
Thank you for joining the fight to save our bats!


--Dolores

Dolores Savignano, Ph.D.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
email: dolores_savignano at fws.gov
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