$450,000 in grants goes to states for white-nose syndrome work

Twenty-three states are receiving a total of $450,000 in grants for white-nose syndrome projects. State natural resource agencies will use the funds for surveillance and monitoring of caves and mines where bats hibernate, preparing state response plans, and other related projects.

Quote:

“These grants help our state partners, who are on the front lines of the battle against white-nose syndrome, do essential work,” according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s National White-Nose Syndrome Coordinator Jeremy Coleman. “White-nose syndrome has spread rapidly, requiring state and federal agencies to direct significant resources toward work on this deadly disease.”

Funding source:

The funding for state grants comes from a $1.9 million congressional appropriation for white-nose work. One million dollars of the appropriation will be allotted to research grants, and $450,000 will support U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service coordination and management of the response to white-nose syndrome.

Background:

White-nose syndrome is a disease of unknown origin that has killed more than a million bats in the Northeast in four years. First seen in early 2006 on hibernating bats in a cave west of Albany, N.Y., it has been confirmed in 11 states and two Canadian provinces. It is considered likely in two more states. Despite a concerted effort by more than 50 agencies and organizations, no means of stopping WNS has yet been discovered.

Photos, additional background, current information, map: http://www.fws.gov.

-FWS-

States receiving WNS grants, May 2010

Notes: Many of the states did not receive the full amount requested and may be unable to fund all the needs identified in their grant applications. “Surveillance” refers to looking for white-nose syndrome in bats. “Monitoring” refers to recording bat population numbers and locations.

State name Grant Purpose of grant_____________________

. Alabama $27,190 surveillance, monitoring, communications

2. Arkansas $21,143 surveillance, monitoring, cave closure signs

. Connecticut $15,095 monitoring, research support, communication

4. Delaware $9,048 surveillance, monitoring, communication, state response plan

5. Georgia $15,095 surveillance, monitoring, decontamination supplies, communication, cave closure signs

6. Indiana $20,400 surveillance, monitoring, assessment of cave closures

7. Iowa3 $12,600 surveillance, monitoring, communications

8. Kentucky $32,039 surveillance, monitoring

9. Louisiana $5,400 surveillance, monitoring, state response plan

0. Massachusetts $9,048 monitoring, cave gates 1. Minnesota $21,143 surveillance, monitoring, state response plan, communication 2. Mississippi $9,048 monitoring 3. Missouri $32,039 cave gates, state response plan 4. New Hampshire $15,095 surveillance, monitoring, cave gates, communication 5. New Jersey $19,529 monitoring, developing new surveillance techniques 6. North Carolina $21,143 surveillance, state response plan, research support, communication 7. Pennsylvania $32,039 monitoring, investigate disease containment 8. South Carolina $15,095 surveillance, communication, assess cave conditions 9. Tennessee $27,190 monitoring

20. Vermont $21,143 surveillance, monitoring, communication, research support

21. Virginia $21,143 surveillance, monitoring, communication, research support

22. West Virginia $27,190 surveillance, monitoring

23. Wisconsin $21,143 surveillance, monitoring, manage winter and summer bat sites, communication