Native plants increase the number of insects, and bugs help bats

There was a recent New York Times story about efforts to help bats, which have been decimated my white-nose syndrome (WNS). Years ago, the fungus that causes white-nose syndrome found its way deep into U.S. caves, perhaps on the sole of a boot.

Solutions have been nonexistent.

More than a dozen bat species now need the protections of the Endangered Species Act, and the tricolored bat may soon be added.

New innovations to thwart white-nose syndrome

So news about scientists experimenting with novel ways to “thwart the fungus” — not cure it — is very exciting indeed. Here’s what they’re doing:

• Spraying caves with polyethylene glycol 8000: Often used in human pharmaceutical products, this stuff can coat the spores of the fungus and prevent it from growing. In a limited test, it worked.
• Keeping caves cool: Cooler temps can slow the growth of the fungus. They’ve cooled the caves by creating vents and letting cool air in and warm air out.
• Fattening up the bats.

It’s this third item that I want to highlight here. When infected with the fungus, bats awaken more often from hybernation, fly around and burn calories. When and if a bat survives the winter, it emerges from the caves sick and with little to no fat reserves.

A bug buffet

The idea here is to provide the emaciated bats with a bounty of bugs immediately upon leaving the cave. The trick is to plant native prairie and plants, which attract a multitude of insects, and voilà — suddenly there’s a buffet for bats.

Kudos to the team at Bat Conservation International for playing a key role in the native plant strategy.

Overall, the creativity, time, sweat and money spent on these efforts shows a focus on saving the natural world, and ultimately ourselves. It’s needed and appreciated.