White Nose Syndrome Video

White nose syndrome is a new condition that was first recognized in bats in New York State in the winter of 2006.

Since then, white nose syndrome, or WNS, has spread throughout the northeast United States, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Quebec and Ontario killing millions of the winged mammals. 

In March 2010, white nose syndrome was found and confirmed in Ontario bats. While it is believed WNS does not pose a direct health threat to people, it could still have a negative impact on humans. Bats are the primary predator of night-flying insects including moths, mosquitoes and many agricultural crop pests -- a single bat can eat three times its body weight in insects every night.  The "service" performed by bats in reducing agricultural losses from insect damage is estimated to be worth as much as $3.7 billion annually in the United States alone.

It takes about 2 minutes to view this video.

• White Nose Syndrome Fact Sheet  (PDF, 636 kb)
• Bat Hibernation and Hibernacula  (PDF, 45 kb)
• Bat Ecology