Whole‐room ultraviolet sanitization as a method for the site‐level treatment of <i>Pseudogymnoascus destructans</i>

White-nose syndrome (WNS), a catastrophic fungal disease of hibernating bats, is perpetuated by environmental reservoirs the pathogen, Pseudogymnoascus destructans. Surviving bats clear infection each summer but are re-infected upon return to hibernaculum. Therefore, addressing critical for managing WNS. Ultraviolet (UV) light known kill P. destructans in lab, and whole-room UV sanitization common practice many commercial settings. However, effective treatment at hibernaculum scale has yet be confirmed. Importantly, existing standard practices likely require modification implementation hibernation sites. Prior field testing, confirming ability sanitizers treat complex topography hibernacula, as well quantifying effects such on times necessary. Here we use laboratory setting investigate feasibility UV-C treating All trials resulted mean reductions 97.3% (range: 91.9-99.7%) relative controls. To prepare future within hibernaculum, quantified effect distance, emission angle, incidence angle irradiance delivered target locations. From these data, calculated required killing natural setting. Measurable extended maximum distance 21.3 m. Angles both reduced irradiance; however, conclude that ~325 m3 surface volume could treated <2 h. Taken together, may provide feasible, scalable, relatively ecologically benign method reducing populations.