white nose syndrome - Wildlife Management Pro

White Nose Syndrome (WNS) is named for a white fungus found on the muzzles and wings of infected bats. Bats with White Nose Syndrome awaken often during hibernation and use up the fat reserves they need to last through the winter, causing them to freeze or starve to death. Because this bat “disease” can impact Texas bats, Executive Director Carter Smith has issued an executive order giving authority to close caves on Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) property to protect bats from the spread of White Nose Syndrome.

Though individual animals can spread the bat disease among themselves, there is evidence that humans coming from infected bat caves and roosts can transport the fungus as well. WNS “has caused the most precipitous wildlife decline in the past century in North America,” said John Hayes, chairman of the University of Florida Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation. So can WNS be stopped? Continue reading TPWD Protects Bats on Wildlife Management Areas

Bats can get white nose syndrome

Scientist and doctors are aware of the serious potential threat posed by the fungal disease known as white nose syndrome to bat populations. Many are coordinating with partner groups like Bat Conservation International and others and considering actions to protect bats across the United States. Most agencies are attempting to prevent people from transporting fungus spores which could infect bats. White-nose syndrome has not yet been detected in many states, so everyone should consider preventive measures to protect bat colonies before problems arise. The syndrome has killed hundreds of thousands of bats in many U.S. states and can kill up to 95 percent of bats at a single site once infected.

Texas, including the cave-rich Edwards Plateau region in the central Hill Country, is one of North America’s most important regions for bats. Texas has more public bat-viewing locations than any other state. That includes the largest known bat colony in the world, Bracken Cave near San Antonio. The Lone Star state also boasts the US’ most famous urban bat colony, the Congress Avenue Bridge in Austin. So although white nosed syndrome has not been documented in Texas bats, below are some key points about bats and why it is important that this bat illness not invade local populations. Continue reading White Nose Syndrome in Bats