On 01/25/2011 9:56, jennifer wrote:
Just published in the Federal Register.
See attachment or link here
http://www.caves.org/region/swr/docs/BLMCaveClosed_01252011.pdf
Funny there's not a single word about bat-bat transmission, which
certainly is the case, but instead a perpetuation of the unproven and
speculative (regardless of the claim of 'scientific data'): Scientific
data indicates that fungal spores associated with the disease may be
spread inadvertently among bat hibernation sites by humans, their
clothing, or caving gear.
So, because spores MAY be spread by cavers, and in the absence of any
demonstrated case of WNS within a thousand miles* of NM, the caves WILL
be closed, end of discussion.
This makes great bureaucratic sense (that would be CYA) somewhere to
someone, but otherwise is an gross overreaction to something that's not
been shown to even remotely affect NM.
http://www.wildlifedepartment.com/newsreleasearchive/05-10nr.htm#Bat_fungus_documented_in_Oklahoma
**Bat fungus documented in Oklahoma*
Laboratory tests performed at the U. S. Geological Survey
National Health Center in Madison Wisconsin have demonstrated that a
Cave Myotis (Myotis velifer) bat collected alive on May 3, 2010 from a
cave in northwest Oklahoma has tested positive for the fungus Geomyces
destructans.
Although genetic tests indicate that the bat was harboring
the fungus, the pattern of infection was not consistent (in other words,
WNS was not manifested) with the White Nose Syndrome infection observed
in bats in the eastern United States. There also has not been a
mortality event attributable to White Nose Syndrome in Oklahoma to date.
Both the ODWC and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) are
concerned about the potential development of White Nose Syndrome in
Oklahoma in the near future. (and nothing further has been reported in
the interim 8 months)
This finding is the first record of the fungus in Oklahoma
and represents the most western report to date. The next closest known
report of the fungus occurred in eastern Missouri earlier this year. To
date, all of the White Nose Syndrome cases have been east of the
Mississippi River.
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