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More information on White Nose Bat Syndrome from U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service with specific caver recommendations.
Mark Minton
Concerns raised for endangered Indiana bats
Responding to an unprecedented die-off of thousands of bats in New York, biologists and researchers from around the country are working to identify a fungus found on hibernating bats, and to assess the threat to bat populations nationwide. The disease, dubbed white-nose syndrome because of the presence of a white fungus around the muzzles of some affected bats, is a major concern to the bat conservation community. White-nose syndrome was first detected at caves and mines in New York last winter, where it is believed to be associated with the deaths of approximately 8,000 to 11,000 bats. This winter the disease has again been found at the previously infected New York sites, and has spread to several other sites there as well as one site in Vermont. Although the fungus is believed to be associated with the die-off, it is unknown if it contributed to the deaths or whether it is a symptom of another problem. Because it is not known how the disease spreads, cavers in New York and Vermont have been asked to avoid entering caves and mines until more information is available. No impacts to humans have been reported to date. Wildlife managers are concerned about the outbreak because bats congregate by the thousands in caves and mines to hibernate during winter months. This behavior increases the potential that the disease will spread among hibernating bats. In addition, hibernating bats disperse in spring and migrate, sometimes hundreds of miles away, to spend the summer. Most bats affected to date are little brown bats, but the fungus has also been found on endangered Indiana bats, raising concerns about the impacts on a species already at risk. Other affected bat species include the eastern pipistrelle and the northern long-eared bat. Indiana bats, protected by the federal Endangered Species Act, as well as state laws, range across much of the eastern United States. Indiana supports the largest hibernating population of the species. About 238,000 Indiana bats, approximately 46 percent of the total population, winter in Indiana caves. Another 15 states have populations of hibernating Indiana bats. What is the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service doing to help? The focus of current efforts among conservation agencies and organizations is on determining the cause of bat deaths. Until the cause is known, it is not possible to determine how the ailment is spread and evaluate possible treatments. The Service is in close communication with the states of New York and Vermont, where biologists are investigating the geographic extent of the outbreaks and collecting samples of affected bats. Several university and government laboratories are coordinating their efforts to analyze samples to help determine the cause of the bat deaths. Private laboratories have also offered assistance. In addition, the Service is developing a geographic database to track the location of affected sites, and collect information on each site, such as the number of bats affected. This information will be critical in tracking the extent and spread of white-nose syndrome and in coordinating research efforts. Message to Cavers The Service applauds the caving community’s strong conservation ethic and long-time support of bat conservation efforts, and we ask for your continued cooperation and assistance as we address white-nose syndrome. We request that cavers continue to observe all existing seasonal cave closures at known Indiana bat hibernacula, and when possible, to avoid caves or passages of caves containing large hibernating populations of any bat species. The Service is not encouraging individual cavers or caving groups to systematically search for bats with WNS in caves or mines. If, while caving this winter, you should observe a hibernating bat with a white muzzle or other odd white, fungus-like patches, please follow the interim guidelines below.
White-Nose Syndrome Decontamination Procedures The Service asks that cavers please follow these procedures for decontamination. The caving community can help in the effort to control white-nose syndrome by encouraging all cavers to adopt these precautions. This may be important in preventing what could be a continent-wide spread of a previously unidentified pathogen to all caves and mines, and all our cave-dwelling bat populations.
More Information:
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