Update on White-Nose Syndrome: Cave Advisory

Little brown bat; close-up of nose with fungus associated with white-nose syndrome, New York, Oct. 2008. ( Photo courtesy Ryan von Linden/New York Department of Environmental Conservation.)

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is asking for people who frequent caves and mines to voluntarily stop using them in an attempt to prevent the spread of white-nose syndrome (WNS) in bats.

Since they do not have the authority to close all caves and mines, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife service is asking for the cooperation of other government agencies, organizations, and private property owners to help slow or prevent the further spread of WNS.

There is no timeline set for this cave advisory, as there is no way to know when researchers will know the answers they seek. According to their website, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service hope to revisit the topic at least quarterly.

Human Effect on Transmission

Currently, there is no definitive proof that human beings are spreading this mysterious disease in the northeast. Scientists are fairly certain that it transmitted bat-to-bat, but the way this malady has spread leads them to believe that humans may be agitating the situation.

“We suspect that white-nose syndrome may be transmitted by humans inadvertently carrying WNS from cave to cave where bats hibernate,” said Northeast Regional Director Marvin Moriarty of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Scientists have noticed that in some areas, caves and mines that are popularly used recreationally have WNS-affected bats, but nearby caves that are infrequently used have seemingly healthy bats.

Also, white-nose syndrome has been found in places that are significantly far from the nearest known infected hibernacula, the location where bats hibernate for the winter.

According to DeAnn Reeder, biology professor at Bucknell, the pattern appears to follow human traffic more than that of bat migration.

“We know that fungal spores are things that are released into the air and they can stick to your caving suit … and in your boots and then can be tracked to another site. Because we know fungal spores can move that way, it’s entirely possible that humans have spread white nose.” Reeder said in an interview with WHYY.

Details of Advisory

The updated cave advisory is a multiple-prong attack, affecting both recreational cavers and the scientific community.

Recreational cavers are asked to voluntarily stop entering caves and mines both in states known to have white-nose syndrome and adjoining states. Currently, states with confirmed cases are as follows: Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

For those in states that are beyond infected and adjacent states, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service asks that you only use equipment that has never entered a WNS-affected or neighboring state.

It is also asks of the public to avoid all caves and mines everywhere during the period bats hibernate.

State and federal agencies are asked to evaluate their scientific activities and determine the risk of spreading WNS. All researchers are required to use gear and clothing that has never entered a WNS-affected or adjacent state.

For the full cave advisory and frequently asked questions, visit the website for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Visit these links for my previous posts on white-nose syndrome: February 26, 2009; March 9, 2009.