Pop Up Archive Item: “Bat-Killing White-Nose Syndrome Spreads In Illinois” : https://www.popuparchive.com/collections/1468/items/36208

Transcript for file: 2015-03-03-sadbats_long.mp3

	

00:00:00

M1

The white nose syndrome gets its name from a fungus that grows on affected bats noses . Scientists say the infected bats often show odd behavior like taking daytime flights when they’re supposed to be hibernating. It’s suspected that depletes their fat reserves and causes the bats to become emaciated and eventually die. Illinois tried to ward it off caves managed by the state has been closed to the public since two thousand and ten. Still the disease was first detected in Illinois bats in two thousand and thirteen and Harden, Lasalle, Monroe and Pope counties. New tests from the U.S. Geological Survey show it has spread. That’s from Union, Saline, Johnson and Jackson counties in southern Illinois tested positive . White nose syndrome isn’t harmful to people or pets but it’s very lethal to bats and that has harmful ecological repercussions. Bats appetite for insects means they’re nature’s built-in pest control. There’s no known cause or cure for the disease . I’m Amanda Vinicky.