Fauna Journal Entry

Caves Closing to Protect Bats (May 18, 2009)

The U.S. Forest Service is closing thousands of caves in 33 states to help control a deadly disease that's wiped out bat colonies across the United States. The disease, called white-nose syndrome, is caused by a fungus that leaves a light circle around its victim's nose.

The Forest Service is issuing two cave closure orders. The first applies to caves in 20 states stretching from Minnesota to Maine. The second covers 13 southern states. The caves will be off-limits to the public for up to one year.

The disease was first discovered in caves in Upstate New York about two years ago. It quickly spread to bat colonies in New England, the South, and the Midwest. Biologists worry the fungus could wipe out endangered species, such as big-eared bats and gray bats, in several states.

The fungus gets under bats' skin through hair follicles and sweat glands. It thrives in cold weather, when the bats hibernate and their immune systems are weakest. The infection often wakes the bats from hibernation, forcing them to burn their precious reserves of stored fat. Some infected bats exhaust the reserves and die of starvation. Others awake with damaged wings that hurt their ability to fly to find food.

Diseases can spread easily in a bat population. The mammals congregate in large numbers, often forming dense clusters in caves. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service advises the public to avoid bat caves in infected areas to reduce the chance of disturbing them.