The White-Nose Syndrome Mystery:

Something is Killing Our Bats

Tens of thousands of hibernating bats died this past winter in the northeast and we don’t know why.  Scientists are working desperately to unravel the cause. The disease is called “white-nose syndrome,” because a fungus appears around the muzzle of some affected bats. Researchers do not know whether the fungus is causing or contributing to the deaths or is merely a symptom of another problem.

Bat Conservation International (website: batcon.org) has established a fund that is accepting donations to help finance this critical research. BCI is working with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and other agencies to help find solutions to this critical problem.

Describing the bat deaths as “an unprecedented die-off,” the USFWS is working with state biologists and wildlife officials around the country to understand the nature of this threat to several bat species, including the endangered Indiana bat. In addition to Indiana, white-nose syndrome has been reported among little brown myotis, eastern pipistrelles and northern long-eared bats.

A portion of proceeds from this event will be donated to the White-Nose Syndrome Research Fund sponsored by Bat Conservation International.

Woodward Cave is working closely with the bat experts from the Pennsylvania Game Commission.  The October tours are early enough in the hibernating cycle as to not pose a threat.  Following these tours, the cave will be shut down for the winter to help the bats survive the winter with minimum disturbance.

White Nose Syndrome does not affect humans and has no adverse health effects.