Biologist Concerned About New Bat Fungus

(Elkins) — You’ll have to look close, very close….but the tell-tale sign is right under the nose.   No, not your nose, a bat’s nose.    Biologists up and down the eastern seaboard are concerned by the discovery of a new virus that is proving deadly to hibernating bat colonies in the northeast.

"Up in New York state and Vermont they found what they’re calling a ‘White Nose Syndrome.’ It’s a disease or pathogen that creates a fungus around their nose," said Craig Stihller of the West Virginia DNR. "They’ve literally lost thousands of bats in some of their caves."

Stihller says his team is looking hard for the fungus in West Virginia‘s hibernating bat colonies during its winter bat survey, but so far are pleased to report they have found no sign of it here.  The threat is of particular

White Nose Syndrome Found in NY and Vermont

concern however, with West Virginia‘s endangered Indiana and Virginia Big Eared bat populations.   Recently, those populations have been showing a steady improvement in numbers.  

Researchers know very little about the fungus, its origin, or how it is spread.   That lack of knowledge is causing biologist to consider taking precautions that may come as a disappointment to caving enthusiasts this summer.

"We’re considering maybe asking folks to stay out of some of those very important bat caves until we know what’s going on," said Stihller.

Typically West Virginia caves identified as important bat hibernating spots are closed to the public during the winter months, but generally are reopened once bats leave their cold weather lair.    Stihller says they are considering keeping some of those caves closed this year fearing the potential spread of whatever is causing the fungus.  

"Once it gets here it’s looking like it kills 100-percent of the bats and nobody knows what it is yet," he said.  "The real concern is that it might be contained in the soil and carried from cave to cave, but it’s also a fungus affecting bats, but we also don’t know how it’s affecting humans."

Teams of researchers are conducting tests in several labs nationwide in an attempt to determine what is causing the illness.