"The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today announced six grant awards totaling $800,000 to fund research into the cause and control of white-nose syndrome, a wildlife health crisis that has now killed more than a million bats in the Northeast and remains unchecked.

Biologists with state and federal agencies and organizations across the country are still trying to find the answer to this deadly mystery.

"These grants will provide critical funding to help the Service and our partners find the cause, find a cure and stop the spread of this deadly disease," said Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks Jane Lyder. "Bats are an incredibly important component of our nation’s ecosystem, and the loss of even one species could be disastrous for wildlife, agriculture and people." "

Environment News Service had the story October 26, 2009. [2]