The animals are fighting disease and wind turbines
Bats in Texas have been dwindling in numbers due to various factors. White nose syndrome has been spreading across the United States and is a disease that affects hibernating bat populations. When bats hibernate, they lower their body temperature and slow down their metabolism. The disease occurs when the fungus gets onto a bat’s body and acts as an irritant. Bats have also been threatened by the growing presence of wind turbines. Bats are, for some reason, attracted to the structures and fly into the blades, causing trauma or death.
White nose syndrome has gotten so bad throughout the state that scientists are now asking the public for help in coming up with a solution to the problem. They are offering a potential cash prize of $20,000 for anyone who’s idea is sufficient enough to be picked. Earlier this year, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department said the disease had been found in 11 new counties in the state.
For information on bat diseases and proper removal, visit The Critter Team.
Texas bats threatened by disease, wind turbines
Bats are one of Austin’s most iconic nonhuman residents, but their populations have been declining because of natural and man-made threats across Texas and the United States.
White-nose syndrome and wind turbines are two significant threats to bat populations, said Jonah Evans, state mammalogist for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Read more
Summary: Bats in Texas have been dwindling in numbers due to various factors. White nose syndrome and wind turbines have been causing issues for the flying critters.
Wind Energy’s War on Nature: Wind turbines pose the single greatest threat to bats after habitat loss and white-nose syndrome. In some places such as Texas, where white-nose syndrome, a deadly fungus, has only recently arrived, wind turbines are the single greatest threat to bats
— GOODNEWS🇺🇸 (@Newsource21) July 12, 2019
Got An Idea To Save Bats From White-Nose Syndrome?
White-nose syndrome, a fungal disease that has decimated bat populations, is spreading in Texas. Scientists are trying everything from vaccines to UV lights to control the disease. Now, they’re asking the public for help.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has started accepting ideas to fight white-nose syndrome. If your idea is picked as one of the most promising, you could win up to $20,000 and work with scientists to test it out. Learn more
Summary: White nose syndrome has gotten so bad throughout the state that scientists are now asking the public for help in coming up with a solution to the problem. They are offering a cash prize to whoever can come up with a viable idea.
Got An Idea To Save Bats From White-Nose Syndrome? The Government Wants To Hear It! – HPPR https://t.co/CqLlFBSHWo
— Physiology (@Physiology24x7) November 30, 2019