WNS researcher Tom Kunz of Boston University and his work.
The Man Who Loves Bats
By Ted Genoways
August 24, 2011
OneEarth magazine
http://www.onearth.org/article/the-man-who-loves-bats
Interesting take-away
But, as new information emerges, Kunz also believes that a simple hammer-and-nails approach may offer a partial remedy: the "roost module," a wooden box containing narrowly spaced baffles. Roosting females can nestle into the tight crevices, well insulated and better able to retain heat. The fungus can’t survive above about 68 degrees Fahrenheit -- much lower than an active bat’s body temperature of well over 100 degrees. It’s only when bats go into torpor during hibernation and their body temperature drops to near ambient levels that they fall prey to the fungus. While it may not be possible to keep cave-dwelling bats warm during hibernation, Kunz believes that the chances of recovery and reproduction for each spring’s survivors would improve if they had these snug places to roost during summer nights.