The U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is pleased to announce the availability of research funding in 2017 to investigate issues related directly to the management of white-nose syndrome (WNS).

This opportunity is open to non-governmental, university, and private researchers, as well as

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State and Federal agencies, and Tribes.

For information on WNS and currently funded projects, please see:
http://www.whitenosesyndrome.org/ As of March 10, 2017, WNS has been confirmed in bats in 30 states and the causative fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd) has also been detected in two additional states without confirmation of the disease.

Twelve North American and 21 Eurasian species of bats have been confirmed with WNS or detected carrying Pd.

Surveys in affected areas continue to reveal population declines associated with the disease at most contaminated sites in North America.

The Service has targeted up to $ 1. 2 million for an open funding opportunity in 2017 to investigate high priority questions about WNS that will improve our ability to manage the disease and conserve affected bats.

Available funds are internally directed for Fiscal Year 201 7. This funding opportunity accompanies three additional funding opportunities from the Service for WNS in 2017:
1) Bats for the Future Fund (with National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and U. S. Forest Service) www.nfwf.org/bats; 2) WNS Grants to States program (grants.gov Funding Opportunity # F17AS00166 open through May 15, 2017), and 3) WNS Small Grants for Communications and Research on WNS (with Wildlife Management Institute, anticipated in Fall 2017).