Funding cuts jeopardize British Columbia bats fighting white‑nose syndrome

White‑nose syndrome, a fungal disease that has killed more than six million bats across North America since 2006, has been detected in bat guano in British Columbia. Researchers have been using a probiotic cocktail, developed in 2017, to protect bats in Washington state, with promising results. The United States had provided about a quarter of the $2 million funding for the cross‑border project, but funding was halted after the Trump administration issued a stop‑work order, ending federal support for Canadian efforts.

Without U.S. money, British Columbia lacks the resources to continue testing and treatment, despite the province being the “last stronghold” for bat populations in the region. Bats constitute roughly 12 % of the province’s terrestrial mammal biodiversity and consume more than half their body weight in insects each night, providing vital pest control for agriculture and forests. Provincial officials warn that the fungus could spread to bats within two to three years, potentially causing mass die‑offs similar to those seen elsewhere.

Scientists call for increased provincial funding to sustain the probiotic treatment and monitoring, emphasizing the ecological and economic importance of preserving bat colonies.