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Here is more on the White Nose Syndrome in bats in the Northeast from Buford Pruitt, Chairman of the NSS Nature Preserves Committee.
Mark Minton
As a result of the "infection" of so-called white nose syndrome (WNS), our AVP, Ray Keeler, has authorized me to close all NSS-owned caves on NSS nature preserves in the Northeastern US for the remainder of the winter. This includes the McFails, Barton Hill, Schoharie and Tytoona properties. The cause of WNS is unknown, as are transmission factors and mitigative measures. Whatever is causing WNS is quite deadly, killing 50 - 97 percent of affected bats. Species known to be adversely affected include the little brown myotis, Indiana bat, gray bat and southeastern pipistrelle. So far only hibernating bats are known to be affected, but this may be a consequence of the fact that WNS has only very recently been discovered. Likewise, only caves in the Northeast are so far known to be affected, but this may be just because WNS has only recently been assessed for. It is highly likely that, as spring and summer come around, infected bats will spread WNS to neighboring states and to additional species. Here are a couple of links you may be interested in: http://www.dec.ny.gov/press/41621.html http://www.vtfishandwildlife.com/Detail.cfm?Agency__ID=1273 It would be wise to look for evidence of WNS in other states; I intend to do so here in Florida. In fact, I am going further than Ray's authorization and recommending that any cave in any state with moderate to high numbers of bats should be avoided completely until the issue has been properly addressed by scientific scrutiny. As a retired professional ecologist and an ardent cave resource conservationist, I know that Earth is in the midst of one of its greatest extinction events (and that it is due to /Homo sapiens/), know that many species of bats around the world are under significant threat, and believe that we should act extremely conservatively on this matter until more is known. Thus, I will personally support the closure of any cave known to shelter more than a few bats. -- Buford |
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