Minnesota Mammal Study collection (7 of 9)
4"x6"
Acrylic on wood panel

I wanted to cover a diverse range of Minnesota mammals, so of course, I had to include a member of Chiroptera! Myotis lucifugus is the little brown bat. I painted this species to draw attention to its conservation status - special concern in Minnesota. This sweet little species has been in decline due to white nose syndrome, a fungal disease that grows on their nose, wings, and ears while they're hibernating, often leading to death. According to the Fish and Wildlife Service, scientists are developing methods to combat this fungus, including vaccines for the bats, UV-C sterilization of hibernacula prior to bats arriving, probiotics for the bats to slow fungal growth, volatile organic compounds (like mosquito foggers for fungi), and temperature regulation (cooling hibernacula to prevent fungal growth).