White nose syndrome facts for kids

White-nose syndrome (WNS) is a serious illness that has caused many bats to die in the United States and Canada. It gets its name because bats affected by it often have a white fungus growing around their noses. This disease was first noticed in February 2006.

What is White-Nose Syndrome?

White-nose syndrome is caused by a cold-loving fungus called Pseudogymnoascus destructans. This fungus grows well in cold, damp places like caves where bats hibernate. When bats are infected, the fungus appears as a fuzzy white growth on their noses, wings, and ears.

The fungus irritates bats while they are hibernating. Hibernation is like a deep sleep that helps bats save energy during winter. When the fungus bothers them, bats wake up more often than they should. Waking up uses a lot of their stored energy. Because they wake up too much, they run out of energy before winter is over. This makes them weak and hungry, and they can't survive until spring.

How WNS Spreads

The fungus spreads easily from bat to bat. It can also spread from bats to the cave environment. This means that once a cave has the fungus, it can stay there and infect other bats that come to hibernate. People can also accidentally carry the fungus on their clothes or gear if they visit infected caves.

Where Did WNS Appear First?

White-nose syndrome was first officially reported in January 2007. It was found in some caves in New York. By 2008, it had spread to other New York caves and into nearby states like Vermont, Massachusetts, and Connecticut.

In early 2009, the disease was found in New Hampshire, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. By March 2010, it had reached Ontario, Canada, and Middle Tennessee. New cases continued to appear in different areas. In 2012, it showed up in northeastern Ohio and Acadia National Park in Maine. In 2013, more confirmed cases were found in Georgia, South Carolina, and Illinois. The disease has continued to spread across North America since then.

Images for kids

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  Little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus) affected by white-nose syndrome

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  Pseudogymnoascus destructans

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  States and provinces affected by white-nose syndrome as of April 2018

See also

In Spanish: Síndrome de la nariz blanca para niños