Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans and Insular Affairs Oversight Hearing:
Why We Should Care About Bats: Devastating Impact White-Nose Syndrome is Having on One of Nature’s Best Pest Controllers
On June 24, 2011, the Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans and Insular Affairs held an oversight hearing, Why We Should Care about Bats: Devastating Impact White-Nose Syndrome is Having on One of Nature’s Best Pest Controllers.
Six witnesses were invited to testify and share their expertise on white-nose syndrome (WNS). The individuals testifying formed a diverse group affiliated with the private and public sector, including federal and state agencies, non-profit organizations and academic institutions. Transcripts of their testimonies are available from the webcast site. The recording of the hearing session is a little over 1 hour and 35 minutes in length.
The goals of this session were to "review the steps that have been taken over the past five years to control White-Nose Syndrome and the amount of money that has been spent on these efforts, assess the efficiency of working groups meant to contain if not stop this disease, and look for new ways of managing this deadly bat fungus."
Source: House Natural Resources Committee web site
White-Nose Syndrome Resources
Photo courtesy of US Fish and Wildlife Service; Credit: Jonathan Mays, Wildlife Biologist, Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
Fish and Wildlife Service – WNS Web Page
WNS National Plan [21-page report as pdf]
- WNS National Plan: Questions and Answers [2-page pdf document]
National Wildlife Health Center – WNS Web Page
Wildlife Disease Information Node
What Other Essential WNS Resources Should Every Wildlife Professional Know About?
Know of an invaluable WNS resource (e.g. manual, website, map or image gallery) that every wildlife professional should be aware of? Send the title and a link (if available) of this indispensable resource to us at digest@wdin.org, and we will share it with your colleagues on the Digest.
