U.S. Forest Service Department of the Army - Corps of Engineers Bureau of Land Management U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Water Resources Division, U.S. Geological Survey National Park Service St. Regis Mohawk Tribe Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources Missouri Department of Conservation New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Pennsylvania Game Commission Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 2011 White-nose syndrome (WNS) is a disease responsible for unprecedented mortality in hibernating bats in the northeastern U.S. This previously unrecognized disease has spread very rapidly since its discovery in January 2007, and poses a considerable threat to hibernating bats throughout North America. As WNS spreads, the challenges for understanding and managing the disease continue to increase. Given the escalating complexity of these challenges, a highly coordinated effort is required for State, Federal, and Tribal wildlife agencies, and private partners to respond effectively to WNS and conserve species of bats. The plan proposed herein details the elements that are critical to the investigation and management of WNS, identifies key action items to address stated goals, and outlines the role(s) of agencies and entities involved in this continental effort. application/pdf en U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service A national plan for assisting states, federal agencies, and tribes in managing white-nose syndrome in bats reports