UV Screening for Bat White-Nose Syndrome Surveillance —Audio-Described

Long-wave ultraviolet (UV) light can be used to detect orange fluorescence associated with white-nose syndrome (https://www.usgs.gov/centers/nwhc/science/white-nose-syndrome-surveillance) on bat skin. White-nose syndrome (WNS) is a highly fatal disease affecting multiple species of North American bats that is caused by the fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans. While UV screening does not definitively diagnose white-nose syndrome in bats, it can be used to guide further sampling for white-nose syndrome surveillance. 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 video shows the proper technique for safely screening bats for white-nose syndrome with a hand-held UV light source and 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.