Dr. Camille Hopkins, wildlife disease ecologist and veterinary epidemiologist, will provide an overview of the USGS research portfolio related to white-nose syndrome in bats.  Dr. Tonie Rocke, a research epidemiologist at the National Wildlife Health Center, will then present on her white-nose syndrome vaccine research.  White-nose syndrome (WNS) has devastated insectivorous bat populations in the US, killing more than six million bats and contributing to the Endangered Species Act (ESA)-listing of two species (endangered Northern long-eared bats and endangered tri-colored bats).  Caused by a cold-loving fungus, this disease infects bats when they are most vulnerable (during the hibernation season).  USGS has been aligning our bat science to address the needs of natural resource management agencies in terms of detecting and responding to this disease.  Just as people get a seasonal flu shot to reduce the risk of a flu infection resulting in hospitalization or death, Dr. Tonie Rocke and her team have developed a WNS vaccine for bats to reduce the risk of death following infection.  Please join us for this webinar during Bat Week (Oct. 24-31, 2024) and Happy Halloween!