U.S. Caves to Be Closed to Protect Bats

Hibernating bat with white nose syndrome

Bats have been dying at alarming rates from what scientists call “white-nose syndrome," so named because of a fungus that appears as a white powder on the face and wings of hibernating bats.

Thousands of bat caves and former mines are being closed for up to a year across 33 states in an effort to control a fungus that has killed a half-million American bats in two years.

U.S. Forest Service biologist Becky Ewing said an emergency order was issued for caves in 20 states from Minnesota to Maine, and another 13 states in the southern region should join in later this month.

Scientists suspect humans may inadvertently carry the fungus from cave to cave where bats hibernate. The disease is not believed to pose a risk to humans.

Caving groups have said they do not object to the closings considering the urgent threat white nose syndrome poses to much of the country’s bats.

Bats affected by “white nose syndrome” have been found with white fungus, typically on their noses.

Their behavior is altered, with the winged mammals flying outside of caves during the winter or clustering at the entrance of a cave rather than hibernating inside.

Photo: Al Hicks, NY Dept. of Environmental Conservation.