National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Announces $401,800 in New Grants to Combat White-Nose Syndrome in Bats

WASHINGTON, D.C. (January 14, 2026) – The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) and today announced $401,800 in grants to slow the impact of white-nose syndrome (WNS) on bat populations in New York, Michigan and Wisconsin. The grants will generate $105,000 in matching contributions for a total conservation impact of $506,800.

The grants were awarded through the Bats for the Future Fund (BFF), a partnership between NFWF and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Additional important funding is provided by NextEra Energy Resources, through its charitable arm, the NextEra Energy Foundation, and Southern Company. 

Since 2017, the BFF has supported innovative treatments and research to address WNS—a disease responsible for the loss of millions of bats across North America. More than half of bat species in the United States and Canada hibernate and many are at risk from this devastating disease. Without effective solutions, several species face long-lasting harm, and possible extinction. The program’s goal is to implement strategies that meaningfully improve survival of affected bats.

The projects supported by the two grants announced today will monitor bat populations and track winter movement patterns in order to improve understanding of the relationship between temperature and white-nose syndrome, informing best management practices for bat habitat.

“White-nose syndrome continues to spread throughout North America, impacting the health and survivorship of hibernating bat species,” said Jeff Trandahl, executive director and CEO of NFWF. “This devastating disease, if not curtailed, will severely threaten many bat species and have significant impacts for ecosystems and communities across North America. The support of our federal and corporate partners exemplifies how NFWF and its partners continue to support innovative approaches to address conservation challenges and benefit people and wildlife.”  

“We are pleased to continue this collaborative partnership with NFWF and others,” said Jeremy Coleman, National White-nose Syndrome Coordinator for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. “The research supported through the Bats for the Future Fund is instrumental in advancing development of tools and treatments to manage white-nose syndrome, protect susceptible bats, and recover impacted populations.”

The 2025 grant recipients include:

• Michigan Technological University, which will quantify winter movement of little brown bats in northern Michigan, studying the effect of cooling on the prevalence of the fungus that causes WNS. Tags and autonomous readers will track bats and their movements, informing best practice recommendations for controlling temperatures in mines for the benefit of hibernating bats.
• Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, which will evaluate the relationship between temperature and decay of the fungal pathogen responsible for WNS. Monitoring 25 sites in New York and Wisconsin, researchers will improve understanding of the pathogen’s temperature sensitivity and enable the development of best management practices for applying this information to help bat populations recover.

“Southern Company is proud to fund innovation and conservation, which is why we are a founding partner of NFWF’s Bats for the Future fund,” said Jesalyn McCurry, conservation manager at Southern Company. “Bats are important to agriculture and ecosystems across North America. The grants this year support bat researchers who will shed more light on the role temperature plays in persistence of the fungus that causes white-nose syndrome.”

Since its inception in 2017, the BFF has awarded more than $5 million in grants to support research and implement experimental treatment and management strategies that slow the spread of WNS and improve survival of bats across the U.S. and Canada. Grants support collaborations among federal and state agencies, universities, non-governmental organizations and for-profit corporations, who have joined forces to prevent potential bat extinctions caused by this spreading wildlife disease.

A complete list of the 2025 grants made through the Bats for the Future Fund is available here.    

About the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation

Chartered by Congress in 1984, NFWF has grown to become the nation’s largest conservation foundation. NFWF works with the public and private sectors to sustain, restore and enhance the nation’s fish, wildlife, plants and habitats for current and future generations. Since its founding, NFWF has supported more than 7,000 grantee organizations and funded over 23,300 projects that have generated a total conservation impact of $11.3 billion. NFWF is an equal opportunity provider. Learn more at nfwf.org. 

About Southern Company

Southern Company (NYSE: SO) is a leading energy provider serving 9 million customers across the Southeast and beyond through its family of companies. Providing clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy with excellent service is our mission. The company has electric operating companies in three states, natural gas distribution companies in four states, a competitive generation company, a leading distributed energy solutions provider with national capabilities, a fiber optics network and telecommunications services. Through an industry-leading commitment to innovation, resilience and sustainability, we are taking action to meet customers' and communities' needs while advancing our goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Our uncompromising values ensure we put the needs of those we serve at the center of everything we do and are the key to our sustained success. We are transforming energy into economic, environmental and social progress for tomorrow. Our corporate culture has been recognized by a variety of organizations, earning the company awards and recognitions that reflect Our Values and dedication to service. To learn more, visit www.southerncompany.com.

###

Contact: 

Matt Winter, 202-857-0166, matt.winter@nfwf.org