Virtual Creature Festival: White-nose Syndrome

During the month of October, we will explore the world of NJ’s creepy-crawly fauna and flora and things that go bump, squawk, grunt, (or even stay silent) in the night and day! Also, remember to check out Duke Farms Eventbrite for a wide array of virtual programs to learn more about NJ’s best bears, bats, bobcats, beautiful amphibians, reptiles, as well as other important oozy critters and the concern about climate change’s already negative impact on their future.

As we open the door to October…

"Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,
Over many and quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore,
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.
“Tis some visitor,” I muttered, “tapping at my chamber door-
Only this, and nothing more.”

Remember this poem? Maybe this is who is knocking at your door to welcome you to the Duke Farms Virtual Creature Fest!

The good news: we know that bats are great, despite their bad rap - they are fascinating creatures with amazing echolocation capabilities, and they do us a solid in pest control by eating insects like mosquitos. The bad news: one of the most prevalent and devastating threats to bats worldwide is hurting out precious native bats. This threat? A disease called white-nose syndrome. Learn more about this disease and how humans can prevent the spread of it to save our bats from a deadly fate.

Download the full PDF here.

Cover image credits: "Little brown bat: White-nose fungus" by Microbeworld CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

This resource was created by Abigail Schmid and Kate Reilly.