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Photo Courtesy of Marvin Moriarty | United States Federal Wildlife Service

Little brown bat; fungus on wing membrane, October 2008, New York.

LANSING, MI -- A deadly bat fungus spreading across the United States has been identified for the first time in Michigan, the Department of Natural Resources confirmed Thursday, warning that the fungus could dramatically reduce the state's bat population and have a ripple effect on the agricultural industry.



A little brown bat collected in Dickinson County has been diagnosed with white-nose Syndrome by Michigan State University and confirmed by the U.S. Geological Survey's National Wildlife Health Center in Wisconsin.



MSU also diagnosed four other bats from Mackinac and Alpena counties but the state is awaiting confirmation from the federal testing center.



White-nose syndrome, first documented in New York State in 2006, effects hibernating bat species. It causes skin lesions that can disrupt hibernation patters, leading bats to burn fat reserves that would otherwise help them survive winters without food.



The disease had previously been identified in five Canadian provinces and 27 states, including Iowa and Minnesota. It has led to wide-spread bat deaths in several areas, often within a matter of years.



"Michigan was in some sense completely surrounded by the disease going into this year," Dr. Dan O'Brien, a DNR wildlife veterinarian, told reporters on a conference call. "We anticipated this day would come. It's not unexpected, but it's still a sad day."



Only one species -- little brown bats -- have been found to carry white-nose syndrome so far in Michigan, but officials say that four other species of hibernating bats are also susceptible to the disease. Most spend winters in abandoned mines and caves in the Upper Peninsula and northern lower Michigan.



"We know of approximately 300,000 (bats) that hibernate in underground locations within the state," said Allen Kurta, a researcher from Eastern Michigan University who collected the diseased bats earlier this year during routine habitat surveillance.

"Based on what occurred in the east, we can predict up to 90 percent of those may die in the next three to five years."



While white-nose syndrome is not known to harm humans, a dramatic bat die-off could have a ripple effect, leading to more mosquito bites for Michiganders and the loss of a natural pesticide service for farmers.



That's because bats survive on a steady diet of insects during warmer months -- "lots and lots of insects," according to Bill Scullen, a DNR wildlife biologist.



As of 2012, The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services estimated that roughly 6.7 million bats had contracted white-nose syndrome nationally. Had they not died, those bats would have consumed an estimated 1,320 metric tons of insects.



Some of those insects, such as gypsy moths, are known to cause crop damage. A 2011 study published in the Journal of Science estimated that bats provide Michigan farmers with a natural pesticide service worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Nationally, they provide multi-billion dollar savings.



"They consume very few mosquitoes, probably less than five percent of their diet, but nonetheless it will have a direct impact on humans," said Scullen. "There's probably going to be more of a direct impact on humans more so through the species of insects that have a big impact on agriculture and forest health. Bats are the primary vectors for controlling those insects."



Michigan officials knew the disease was coming, but they cannot stop it. There is no effective treatment for white-nose syndrome. The DNR has blocked off a number of caves and mines known to house hibernating bats in order to keep out humans and prevent them from spreading the fungus that causes the disease in bats.



White-nose syndrome is not harmful to humans, but the DNR and Michigan Department of Community Health continue to warn the public about handling bats because they can carry rabies. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is asking spelunkers to avoid caves in Michigan and other states where white-nose syndrome has been confirmed.



Bat die-offs can be reported through an observation report on the DNR website at www.michigan.gov/wildlife or by calling the DNR at 517-336-5030. More information on white-nose syndrome is available at the DNR website www.michigan.gov/wns.

Jonathan Oosting is a Capitol reporter for MLive Media Group. Email him, find him on Facebook or follow him on Twitter.