White-nose syndrome has killed more than 1 million bats in North America over the past five years, from Nova Scotia to Tennessee; the fungus linked to the disease has been found as far west as western Oklahoma. The bat malady is spreading at staggering speeds and several species are facing imminent regional extinction. It is now confirmed or suspected in 19 states and four Canadian provinces, and could soon jump to the West. Meanwhile scientists have determined that the loss of insect-eating bats could cost American agriculture $3.7 billion to $53 billion per year in lost pest-control services.
The federal government has been painfully slow to take precautionary steps like cave closures to keep humans from spreading the disease. Please join us in speaking up for bats.
Become a Bat Advocate and send a letter today telling the U.S. Forest Service to take immediate steps to close caves and mines in the West, where the spread of white-nose syndrome by peop le can still be prevented.
Visit http://action.biologicaldiversity.org/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=6898 to take action now.
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