The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced grant awards totaling $950,694 to 28 for white-nose syndrome projects. Included among the awards was a total of $232,931 to Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio and Wisconsin. State natural resource agencies will use the funds to support research, monitor bat populations and detect and respond to white-nose syndrome, a disease that afflicts bats.
“White-nose syndrome has spread rapidly from one state in 2007 to 22 states and five Canadian provinces this year,” said Dr. Jeremy Coleman, the Service’s national WNS coordinator. “These grants provide essential support to our state partners in responding to this disease. The research, monitoring, and actions made possible by these grants have yielded valuable results and insights for our national response to white-nose syndrome.”
“This is one of the most devastating diseases affecting wildlife in eastern North America,” said Wendi Weber, co-chair of the White-Nose Syndrome Executive Committee and Service Northeast Regional Director. “Best estimates indicate that it has killed more than 5.7 million bats.”
First discovered in New York in the winter of 2006-2007, the disease has spread rapidly through the eastern U.S. and parts of Canada, and continues to move westward. The Service is leading a cooperative effort with federal and state agencies, tribes, researchers, universities and other non-government organizations to research and manage the spread of WNS. In addition to developing science-based protocols and guidance for land management agencies and other partners to minimize the spread of WNS, the Service has funded numerous research projects to support and assess management recommendations and improve basic understanding of the dynamics of the disease.
Funding for grants was provided through the Endangered Species Recovery program. Proposals were received from 28 states requesting $1,042,938. All eligible requests were given at least partial awards, ranging from about $7,000 to $47,500, for a total of $950,694.
WNS Grants to States 2013 Awards
- Colorado $41,500
- Connecticut $41,546
- Delaware $6,877
- Idaho $41,500
- Illinois $29,449
- Indiana $9,230
- Iowa $25,782
- Kentucky $47,500
- Maine $17,371
- Michigan $47,500
- Minnesota $20,970
- Mississippi $42,248
- Missouri $9,500
- Montana $31,096
- Nebraska $39,813
- New Jersey $43,287
- North Carolina $45,000
- Ohio $43,000
- Oregon $41,487
- Pennsylvania $26,760
- Rhode Island $34,226
- Tennessee $47,500
- Texas $39,566
- Vermont $29,500
- Virginia $38,350
- Washington $15,136
- West Virginia $47,500
- Wisconsin $47,500
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