The Great Salamander Pandemic, Part 4: The 'Bsal battalion'

<p>North America (and the US in particular) is the world’s hotspot of salamander diversity, hosting about 1/3 of all species. Researchers think that about half of these may be susceptible to a deadly fungus called Bsal, and believe it's a matter of time before it gets to North America. If and when it does, it could mean devastation and maybe extinction for a massive amount of amphibians.</p> <p>To head off the threat, scientists created the Bsal Task Force in 2015 and in this fourth episode of  <em>Mongabay Explores</em>, host Mike DiGirolamo interviews the group's Dr. Jake Kerby who is also the associate chair of biology at the University of South Dakota.  </p> <p>Dr. Kerby details the working relationships their 'Bsal battalion' has with federal entities in Canada, the US, and Mexico and how they are working together to manage and mitigate the damage of this potential pandemic. </p> <p>He also discusses what citizens can do to help protect North America's amazingly diverse salamander species.</p> <p>More resources on this topic:</p> <ul> <li><strong><a href= "https://news.mongabay.com/2018/09/on-the-hunt-for-a-silent-salamander-killer/"> On the hunt for a silent salamander-killer</a><br /></strong><em>Scientists are racing to stop a pandemic before it starts – but will they find it in time?</em></li> <li><strong><a href= "https://news.mongabay.com/2018/12/super-spreaders-how-the-curious-life-of-a-newt-could-ignite-a-pandemic/"> Super-spreaders: How the curious life of a newt could ignite a pandemic</a><br /></strong><em>Their susceptibility to Bsal coupled with their mobility mean eastern newts could act as “super-spreaders” of Bsal if the fungus gets to North America.</em></li> <li>Mongabay's special series on 'Bsal' is <a href= "https://news.mongabay.com/series/salamanders/">here</a></li> <li>United States Bsal Task Force <a href= "http://www.salamanderfungus.org/task-force/">website</a></li> </ul> <p>To hear Part 1 of this season, see, "<a href= "https://news.mongabay.com/2020/05/north-americas-looming-salam