Threat to Bats

I've got a story on In Wisconsin this week on February 25, at 7pm, about bats and a deadly epidemic called "White Nose Syndrome". This newly emerging disease is devastating bat populations in the Northeastern U.S. and it's predicted to be heading our way.

I've done a variety of stories on bats for the program, as has my fellow reporter, Liz Koerner. Every story can open a reporter's eyes to new perspectives, new understandings. The big takeaway for me from these bat shoots is a new appreciation of the researchers' hard work and dedication. These people give a new meaning to the term "the midnight shift". Of course, their midnight shift is a second shift since they work long into the night on-site with the bats and daytime hours are spent catching up with the myriad of work that must take place during the day.

There is a shot in this week's story on "White Nose Syndrome" that sums it up for me: two researchers arrive at a truck that serves as a makeshift research station, their arms are full of paper bags and each bag holds a live bat to be weighed and processed as part of the research. Other researchers are standing by to help in this process. It is tough, physical work: data collection late at night and these folks have nose-dived into it in an effort to save Wisconsin's bat populations.

Check it out!