WNS treatment field testing

[PYoungbaer]

Here's a good media story about some of the research going on in the field right now, including a pretty good video showing exactly how the tests are being carried out:

http://www.newsworks.org/index.php/home ... /8641-bats

[LukeM]

Very interesting and thanks for posting. The first question that comes to my mind is will any benefit provided by the fungicide by negated by the added stress of being placed in cages? Will the conditions provided be conducive to hibernation?

I remain hopeful that this will provide a "band-aid" as Hazel Barton said, but what happens after that? If this proves successful, how long will it go on for? I assume GD spores hang around for a very long time. I can definitely appreciate the buying-time aspect to these experiments but my mind immediately drifts to the "what then?" question.

[BrianC]

Here's a good media story about some of the research going on in the field right now, including a pretty good video showing exactly how the tests are being carried out:

http://www.newsworks.org/index.php/home ... /8641-bats

500 big macs is a lot to eat at one meal for any one! I am so excited to see that they state bat to bat spread is what they know. No surmising any human involvement. I guess that the hikers they are referring to, keeping them away from caves, are so that they won't wake the sleeping bats. Finally an article that works with cavers.
I knew they could write this!

[PYoungbaer]

In this instance, hikers = cavers. I've seen this term used in some other writings, too, and it confused me at first.

[Batgirl]

Seems her "spearmint" failed

http://www.popularmechanics.com/science ... the-bats-2

[PYoungbaer]

Batgirl,

The experiments are being re-conducted this winter. I wouldn't say the spearmint failed; rather, it seems the cages weren't well made enough to effectively contain the bats. The control agent has been lab tested and kills the fungus. The question will be whether it works in the field without harming the bats and the rest of the cave ecosystem.

Here's a news story on the updated work, including some excellent video of the experiment's set-ups:

http://www.newsworks.org/index.php/homepage-feature/item/8641-bats

[MUD]

The question will be whether it works in the field without harming the bats and the rest of the cave ecosystem.

Those people shouldn't be allowed anywhere near a cave!