2025 White-nose Syndrome Grants to States and Tribes

Description

White-nose syndrome (WNS) is a disease of hibernating bats caused by the invasive fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd). WNS is confirmed in 12 bat species in North America, including three that are federally listed as endangered and one that is proposed to be listed. WNS has led to severe declines in multiple hibernating species of bats, although impacts vary among affected species and locations. Severity of the disease is unclear for multiple recently or not yet exposed species. The goal of this funding opportunity is to provide financial assistance to our partners at U.S. State and Tribal agencies to fulfill information needs for conserving bats, implement management actions for WNS and susceptible bat species, and actively engage in the National Response to WNS and North American Bat Monitoring Program (NABat). The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is offering financial assistance to wildlife and natural resource management agencies and departments of States, the District of Columbia, and federally-recognized Native American Tribes for efforts related to the management of WNS. Since 2010, funding through the WNS Grants to States has led to critical information and resources for maximizing the benefits of coordinated bat conservation and recovery efforts. In 2019, this funding opportunity was extended to Tribes engaged in or seeking to engage in bat management and conservation efforts. Supported activities will include implementing conservation actions for bats, supporting scientific information gathering, training local personnel, managing WNS and the causative fungus, monitoring bat populations, and maintaining expertise in bat conservation and management in state and tribal agencies. Successful proposals for this program will be plans of action relevant to the current status of WNS in the applicants" locations and will address context-specific conservation needs of WNS impacted bat species and disease management. Funding priorities are intended to support relevant projects in State or Tribal jurisdictions, whether WNS is already affecting resident bats or the fungus has recently or not yet arrived. Successful applications to this funding opportunity will present effective and efficient plans to meet all of the following objectives: Benefit hibernating bat species in the United States. Advance the stated priorities of this funding opportunity and the WNS National Plan. Build upon or advance the current state of knowledge of bats.

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