As night falls over a large country house in Washington state’s Snohomish County, a dozen volunteers gather around Abby Tobin, a scientist with the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife.
"They'll start getting restless soon," Tobin says.
The group is attentive as Tobin gives instructions. Their mission is as follows: catch as many bats as possible.
They’re looking for signs of the fungus that causes white-nose syndrome, which has been decimating bat populations in eastern North America over the last 15 years or so.
Abby Tobin instructs volunteers to catch as many bats as possible, with the ultimate goal of saving them from a deadly fungus that has destroyed populations in eastern Canada. (Genevieve Lasalle/Radio-Canada)
The fungus, known as Pseudogymnoascus destructans, infects bats’ skin, according to the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative, and disturbs hibernation, resulting in dehydration, starvation, and ultimately, death.
But B.C.-based scientist Cori Lausen, nicknamed Bat Lady by her peers, believes a probiotic formula may be capable of saving them.
Research scientist Cori Lausen is studying probiotics as a treatme
Continue Reading on CBC News
This preview shows approximately 15% of the article. Read the full story on the publisher's website to support quality journalism.