Wow!
This is starting to hit closer and closer to home. This is further proof that we will have to be extremely diligent and thorough with our decon during ICS when visiting the state's caves. IF we're able to visit, I should say. ICS is a little over a month away. Thanks for posting this, Mark! Mark A. From: Minton, Mark [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Friday, June 05, 2009 11:23 AM To: nmcaver; gvks; [email protected]; txcaver Subject: [Texascavers] Texas Considering Closing Caves for WNS The following article says that the Texas is considering closing all caves in the state to ward off the possible introduction of White Nose Syndrome. The order would only apply to state-owned caves. I wonder how that would affect the upcoming ICS/NSS convention. <http://www.star-telegram.com/804/story/1408256.html> Mark Minton Posted on Mon, Jun. 01, 2009 As fungus kills bats elsewhere in the U.S., Texas considers closing its caves By BILL HANNA [email protected] Texas officials are considering closing the state's caves out of fear that a deadly fungus associated with the growing number of bat deaths in the Northeastern U.S. may spread to this part of the country. White-nose syndrome, so named because the white fungus appears on bats' noses, has spread rapidly throughout the Northeast since it was first discovered in New York in the winter of 2006-07. It hasn't been discovered in Texas, but it has already reached 10 states, including Oklahoma. While many people may be creeped out by bats, the nocturnal creatures are considered crucial to the agricultural community. For Texas, home to 33 bat species, widespread deaths could be devastating. A 2007 study found that bats help control pests that cost U.S. farmers $1 billion annually. "At this point we're considering whether we should be closing caves on state-owned lands," said John Young, a Texas Parks and Wildlife mammalogist. "We have a number of them on state-owned lands."
