Collecting a skin swab for white-nose syndrome surveillance

This video shows the proper technique for collecting a skin swab from a bat that is either roosting in place or is manually restrained for white-nose syndrome surveillance. White-nose syndrome (WNS) (https://www.usgs.gov/centers/nwhc/science/white-nose-syndrome) is a highly fatal disease affecting multiple species of North American bats that is caused by the fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans. More information on white-nose syndrome surveillance is available from the USGS National Wildlife Health Center (https://www.usgs.gov/centers/nwhc/science/white-nose-syndrome-surveillance). This procedure is intended to be performed by an authorized wildlife professional only. Bats may carry rabies and should never be directly handled without appropriate safety precautions.