White Nose Syndrome Rapid Response Fund

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The purpose of theNSS White Nose Syndrome Rapid Response Fund is to initiate or continue field and laboratory research into White Nose Syndrome in bats, especially where other funding is not readily available, and would result in critically identified seasonal research not occurring.

White Nose Syndrome (WNS) is the name given to a condition of unknown cause that has led to the death of hundreds of thousands of bats in the eastern United States. Since its initial identification in a New York cave in 2006, WNS has now spread to scores of sites in nine states, now as far south as the Virginias.  Numerically, it has affected the little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus) most severely, but has had a more significant impact on the endangered Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis).  WNS has now been documented to affect all northeastern hibernating bat species.

The WNS Rapid Response Fund gives you an opportunity to provide timely, direct, and much-needed support for WNS research.  Because the NSS is a private organization, we can respond rapidly to appropriate research requests.  Given the seasonal nature of bat research, this is most critical.
Over the past two years, the NSS WNS Rapid Response Fund  has been able to fund ten projects that were research priorities collectively identified by the science and management communities, and would not have occurred without our support. Read about the first batch of grants here.  Read what your money funded this past fall here.
Federal funding remains in short supply.  Additional funds approved by Congress this past fall fell far short of the identified need.  As of the end of January 2010, these funds had not yet been allocated or proposals solicited.  Even then, past experience shows that it can take nearly a year for these funds to be used. 
Your help is needed. Make your tax-deductible donation online at the NSS Donation Page, or write a check to the NSS WNS Rapid Response Fund and mail it to: NSS, 2813 Cave Ave., Huntsville, AL 35810-4431. The NSS is a 501(c)(3), non-profit, tax-exempt organization.

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Researchers interested in applying for funding can find the application guidelines here.

WNS Liaison web page - updates on WNS research, media coverage, and key WNS links.