Alberta's first probiotic trial to protect bats

White-nose syndrome has arrived in Alberta, threatening local bat populations with one of the deadliest wildlife diseases in modern history.

Caused by the fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans, the disease has already devastated bat colonies across eastern North America.

Now, for the first time in Alberta, scientists are testing a probiotic treatment developed from beneficial bacteria found on healthy western bats.

This marks the first field application of the probiotic outside of British Columbia and Washington. Conducted in southern Alberta at long-monitored sites, the project brings together science, stewardship, and community to give bats a fighting chance.
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Wing biopsy slides were provided by the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative and Diagnostic Services Unit within the University of Calgary Faculty of Veterinary Medicine.

This project is a collaboration between WCS Canada, Thompson Rivers University, and McMaster University, with support from Alberta Environment and Protected Areas

#Bats #Conservation #WhiteNoseSyndrome #WildlifeResearch #Alberta