Bats and White-nosed Syndrome

Film Date:

February 23, 2021

Speaker:

Joe Kath from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources

Produced by:

Laura Kammin

Kathy Andrews Wright

Edited by:

Sarah Marjanovic

Questions received in advance of the conversation are listed below, with the time noted should you desire to fast-forward to a topic of interest.

00:35 Joe Kath introduction

01:29 What is white-nosed syndrome and how does it affect bats?

04:25 Where did this disease originate and how did it arrive in the states?

08:20 Spread of disease across North America and Canada.

09:45 Distribution of white-nosed syndrome in Illinois.

10:21 Impact white-nosed syndrome on bats in two decades.

12:40 The three species hardest hit in Illinois are the northern long-eared, little brown and tri-colored bats.

13:30 How are bats important to the ecosystem and why should we be concerned about the losses?

17:40 Is there anything that the general public can do to help stem the loss of bats?

20:35 White-nosed syndrome and bat research under way in Illinois.

24:30 Remember—bats are the only mammal on Earth capable of flight and they represent 20 percent of the world’s mammalian population.

If you are interested in viewing the text alternative for the video click the CC option at the lower margin of the video.

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Kathy Andrews Wright is retired from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources where she was editor of Outdoor Illinois magazine. She is currently the editor of Outdoor Illinois Wildlife Journal and Illinois Audubon magazine.