WDNR - Bats in Wisconsin have received some much needed assistance to help stave off a deadly disease. 
Earlier this month the Natural Resources Board unanimously approved three new rules to help protect Wisconsin cave bats from white-nose syndrome, a fungus that has killed over a million bats as it spreads rapidly across the northeastern United States.
The new rules list four cave bat species as threatened; list the white-nose syndrome fungus as a prohibited invasive species; and calls for monitoring of caves and mines and other preventive measures to limit the potential introduction and spread of white-nose syndrome.
"We're grateful that we've been able to work collaboratively to develop policies that will help protect our bat populations without harm to Wisconsin's business, tourism and recreation interests," said Osterndorf.
"We are now at the front line in fighting this disease," said Dave Redell, DNR's lead bat ecologist. "The next three to four years are crucial. If white-nose syndrome reaches Wisconsin, we are looking at potentially losing almost all of our cave-dwelling bat populations."
More information on how to help protect bats can be found on the Saving Wisconsin Bats page of the DNR website.