The bats for the future fund provides grant funding to slow the spread of pseudogymnoascus destructans, the fungal pathogen that causes white-nose syndrome disease in north america, and to promote the…

The bats for the future fund provides grant funding to slow the spread of pseudogymnoascus destructans, the fungal pathogen that causes white-nose syndrome disease in north america, and to promote the survival and recovery of white-nose syndrome-affected BAT populations and species. Objectives are to implement field treatments, management tools and conservation strategies that help white-nose syndrome-affected BAT populations recover from the impacts of the disease. The project supports innovative and collaborative research leading to development and deployment of treatments and management tools or strategies for white-nose syndrome that will perpetuate viable populations of bats. Currently, the disease has been detected in 40 states and eight canadian provinces. Projects may include, but are not limited to: 1) development of genetic or other molecular technologies that reduce pseudogymnoascus destructanss ability to spread and infect bats 2) implementation of habitat modification and enhancement strategies that include restoration of foraging habitats and improved maternity roosting habitats 3) development and testing of biological or chemical controls 4) testing combinations of treatment and strategies and 5) ensure that implemented strategies do not negatively affect species that are not a target of the treatments. Outcome metrics include the number of sites and individuals being treated, number of sites that remain uncontaminated by pseudogymnoascus destructans due to the proposed actions, decreased number of infected bats, population increases among bats that have recovered from infection, lower mortality rates, the number of species that benefit from the treatment(s)and decreases in the rate of infection by pseudogymnoascus destructans.