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Emerging Disease Issues in MichiganMichigan.gov, Official Website for the State of Michigan
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About White-nose Syndrome

• White-nose Syndrome Response Plan PDF icon

• Report Unusual Bat Behavior and Deaths
Click here to report large numbers of bats found dead or bats exhibiting unusual behavior.

• Description
Learn more about WNS and how it affects bats.

• History & Distribution
First identified in New York in 2006, WNS has since been identified in nearby states and Canadian provinces.

• Transmission & Development
WNS is passed by bat-to-bat contact and may be moved between caves by bats and humans.

• Pathology & Diagnosis
WNS causes bats to lose body fat and condition during hibernation.

• Prevention & Control
Restricting human access to caves and mines appears to be the best and most practical control strategy at present time.

• Significance
WNS is causing unprecedented mortality in bats with over a million bats lost.

• Map of Potential Bat Hibernacula in Michigan


Sites of Interest

• National Park Service
(search for white-nose syndrome)

• US Fish and Wildlife Service

• USGS Fort Collins Science Center

• USGS National Wildlife Health Center

• NY State Department of Conservation

• Pennsyvlania Game Commission

• Wildlife Notes on Bats by PA Game Commission PDF icon

• The National Speleological Society

• Bat Conservation International

• Organization for Bat Conservation


Current News

• Posted 4/20/2012: Bat Conservation Scholarship is available to a full time student at ANY Michigan University or ISU Bat Center

• USFWS Current WNS News

• WNS Frequently Asked Questions PDF icon

• Bats in Michigan

• USFWS Photos of WNS

• USGS NWHC Photos of WNS





Quick Links
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 •  Order MDCH Communicable Disease Division Publications PDF icon
 •  FY 2011 Bovine TB Annual Report PDF icon
 •  Feral Swine TV Commercial
 •  Apparent Prevalence of bovine TB in NE Lower MI
 •  YouTube Video - an Explanation of Michigan's Current Status
 •  USDA Approves Bovine TB Free Status for 57 Michigan Counties  PDF icon
 •  Michigan Map of Bovine TB Zones PDF icon
 •  Bovine TB Zoning Rules and Split State Status PDF icon
 •  Hay Feed Cows Not Deer PDF icon
 •  Electronic ID tags in Michigan cattle PDF icon

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