NEW Bat Fungus Geomysis destructans OUTBREAK 7 Million Dead in 16 States, Countdown to Extinction!

...by North Americans if this outbreak isn't contained!

already, thousands of caves in 33 states have been sealed off, but the disease continues to claim millions of North American bats' lives.

it is potentially zoonotic new fungus - it CAN infect & survive on human in cold/temperate conditions but not on humans in their artificially warmed dwellings.





en.wikipedia.org...

Alan Hicks with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has described the impact as "unprecedented" and "the gravest threat to bats ... ever seen." The mortality rate in some caves has exceeded 90 percent.A once common species, little brown myotis, has suffered a major population collapse and may be at risk of rapid extinction in the northeastern US within 20 years from mortality associated with WNS. There are currently 9 hibernating bat species confirmed with infection of Geomyces destructans and at least 5 of those species have suffered major mortality. Some of those species are already listed as endangered on the US endangered species list, including the Indiana bat, whose primary hibernaculum in New York has been affected.The long-term impact of the reduction in bat populations may be an increase in insects, possibly even leading to crop damage or other economic impact in New England.

There will likely be an increase in crop damages, shortages, and increase in INFECTIOUS DISEASES spread through increased populations of biting insects that we rely on bats to keep under control.

Since first discovered in 2007 in New York, white-nose syndrome has spread to 16 states, including Virginia and Maryland, and four Canadian provinces.

Might want to change the sensational title to involve bats.

lol.

bats are extremely important..as are all life forms
this is a huge tragedy!!!

reply to post by BiggerPicture

Not the bats too! Someone somewhere knows something about all this.... Mutated avian influenza fungus? Grrr!



ETA It's strange how as our "research" *cough cough* progresses rapidly into new areas of ways to kill large numbers of people, so do "strange new" animal diseases and afflictions seem to grow.

ive notice more than one eco disaster that is pointing to fact that there are going to be alot more bugs this summer, the warm weather itself is going to play a hug factor in bug population, this sucks shii ts only gonna get worse before it gets better

This is a great thread OP! S/F for bringing it back to the public attention. It's a pretty big deal they talk about here because of all the Caverns in Missouri.

I recall reading years ago that Bats are one of the species we rarely see or think about, but wouldn't last long ourselves without. As I recall, it's the balance of the insects and seeing them just explode in populations that blow everything out of whack almost right away if bats die off.

Why you need a sensasionalist misleading title ??

7 million WHAT?

Info seems interesting, fix that and you'll have a good thread.

According to your title, 7 million dead Americans in 16 States is leading us in a countdown to extinction.

I do believe not even the MSM could hide this one...

Good thread tho.

Peace

reply to post by BiggerPicture


uh oh, "only effects hibernating bats"


can you hear the "i am legend + invasion"


we are so lalalaed lol

White-nose syndrome biological hazard to bat populations report from RSOE.

RSOE Event Details

Edit to Add: I would suggest to the OP that this is a serious problem, one which indeed may come to have very significant impact to humans through crop damage and insect population increases, but choosing a misleading title may indeed turn off those who would have been willing to look at it without the over-kill on the title, pardon my pun. Just my opinion.

Originally posted by autopat51
bats are extremely important..as are all life forms
this is a huge tragedy!!!

Not all forms of life are extremely important. In fact I can think of many that are not. another overdramatic statement just like the title of the thread. Include the word Bats for a little accuracy please!

Title is misleading in its own way. I thought this thread was about a deadly human fungus outbreak.
However I am concerned about bats well being so star and flag.

Very misleading title, however thank you for bringing this to light, S&F for that .

I've been waiting for one of these nasty little diseases to come to north america, hopefully it won't cause as much panic as the Swine Flu, which only killed like 1 person .

This could be very bad if it infects humans though.

Can someone please put BATS in the title.

Just saying 'extinction' makes me think humans by default.

I guess it makes people look, but aren't thread titles across the interwebs being overly used as a sensational attention getter too often? Attractive titles are cool for Ebay and Craigslist.

reply to post by Six6Six

I deny ignorance.

Bats represent about 20% of all classified mammal species worldwide, with about 1,240 bat species divided into two suborders: the less specialized and largely fruit-eating 'megachiroptera', or flying foxes, and the more highly specialized and echolocating 'microchiroptera'.[5] About 70% of bats are insectivores.

Source

Great Title! Dragged me right in.

Besides, the last time I came close to a bat, or rather, a bat close to me, I screamed like a b*tch.

Don't like them.

And, does anyone know if they taste like chicken?

reply to post by autopat51


Not all lifeforms are important. Look at bees and snakes. Useless. Also, OWSers.

Op if the disease cant live in human habitat why should we care?

This is very upsetting. Thank you for bringing this important informaton. I was wondering how the bats were doing.