The northern long-eared bat was recently listed as threatened by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. We learn about the threats facing Michigan bats from Rob Mies of the Organization for Bat Conservation in Bloomfield Hills.
The northern long-eared bat has been hit hard by white nose syndrome. It was recently listed as threatened by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Image: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service/ Wikimedia Commons
Bats don’t have the best reputation. Besides an unfortunate association with Count Dracula, many people just find them plain creepy. But the nocturnal mammals actually play an important role in the ecosystem. That’s why scientists are worried about the widespread fungal disease known as white nose syndrome that’s killing off bats around the country.
The northern long-eared bat has been one of the hardest hit species and was recently placed on the threatened species list by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Current State talks about the threat white nose syndrome poses to bats in Michigan and beyond with Rob Mies, the founder and executive director of the Organization for Bat Conservation based out of Bloomfield Hills.
This story appeared on WKAR’s Current State and is republished here with permission.