Here is a notice from BLM for anyone who did not see Jennifer's e-mail on the same subject. Ken
Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass - It's about dancing in the rain. > Subject: BLM News Release: > To: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; > [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; > [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; > [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; > [email protected]; [email protected]; > [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; > [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; > [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; > [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; > [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; > [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; > [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; > [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; > [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; > [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; > [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; > [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; > [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; > [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; > [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; > [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; > [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; > [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; > [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; > [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; > [email protected]; [email protected] > From: [email protected] > Date: Wed, 26 Jan 2011 08:40:37 -0700 > > > Hi all, > Sorry for the delay in forwarding this. The federal register notice > defining BLM's initial closure of 28 caves with significant bat roosts was > published yesterday. Here is the news release that went to media late > yesterday - received wide coverage overnight with AP, NPR and others. > > White-Nose Syndrome Threat Closes 28 BLM Caves in New Mexico > > > Santa Fe – The Bureau of Land Management published notice in the Federal > Register today closing 28 caves to public visitation for the next two years > in an effort to reduce the threat of White-nose Syndrome to bats. The > temporary closures affect caves that are known to have significant bat > roosts. > > White-nose syndrome (WNS) is a disease that has killed over one million > hibernating bats in the East and Southeast in the past four years. The > fungus associated with the disease, Geomyces destructans, was found on a > bat in western Oklahoma last May thus elevating the concern that the fungus > might next arrive in New Mexico. The fungus is known to be transmitted > from bat to bat and from cave to bat. Scientific data also indicates that > fungal spores may be spread inadvertently by humans, their clothing, or > caving gear from one cave, mine or bat roost to another. > > Today’s closure notice is a continuation of the interagency efforts to > protect New Mexico’s bats that included the development of the White-nose > Syndrome Interagency Response Plan for New Mexico in November 2010. Various > user groups and interested publics provided input into the state plan and > helped develop criteria used to identify significant caves and strategies > for preventing human transmission of the fungus. > > The following BLM caves are now closed: > > Field Office BLM Caves Closed Due to WNS > > Roswell Bat Hole, Big-eared, Corn Sinkhole, Crockett's, > Crystal, Feather, Fly, Fort Stanton, Malpais > Madness, Smiley, Sun Spot, Torgac's, Torgac's Annex, > Tres Ninos and Martin-Antelope Gyp Cave Complex > > Carlsbad Billy the Kid, Dry, Endless, McKittrick, Rusty > Hinge, Sand, Adobe, and Yellowjacket > > Las Cruces Geronimo, U-Bar and Lepto Splat > > Socorro Ladrone > > Rio Puerco Pronoun Cave Complex > > > Although other caves and mines on BLM public lands remain open, subject to > prior restrictions and/or permit requirements, the public > is discouraged from entering any caves and > underground abandoned mine features on public lands to limit the potential > spread of the fungus. Mandatory decontamination of > clothing and gear is required of anyone entering > non-commercial caves or mines on federal lands. The most current WNS > decontamination protocols and gear dedication procedures > are available at > http://www.fws.gov/whitenosesyndrome/index.html. > > New Mexico is home to 28 species of bats, including sixteen that hibernate > in state. Bats play a critical role in many cave ecosystems and are > important nocturnal insectivores that help control insect populations > throughout the summer season. > > > For more information, please visit: > > http://www.blm.gov/nm/st/en/prog/more/wildlife/white-nose_syndrome.html > http://www.fws.gov/whitenosesyndrome/about.html > > http://biology.usgs.gov/wter/wns.html > > > > -BLM- > > > > ________________________________ > Donna Hummel > Acting Chief, Office of External Affairs > USDI, Bureau of Land Management > New Mexico State Office > 301 Dinosaur Trail > Santa Fe, NM 87508 > Office: 505/954-2019 > Cell: 505/660-8528 > Fax: 505/954-2010 > Email: [email protected] > (Document link: Donna Hummel)
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