Bat Dieoff Underway In Northeastern States - Ring Of Fungus Forms Around Animals' Noses

[hatrack]

ALBANY, New York (AP) -- Bats are dying off by the thousands as they hibernate in caves and mines around New York and Vermont, sending researchers scrambling to find the cause of mysterious condition dubbed "white nose syndrome."

The ailment -- named for the white circle of fungus found around the noses of affected bats -- was first noticed last January in four caves west of Albany. It has now spread to eight hibernation sites in the state and another in Vermont.

Alan Hicks, a bat specialist with New York's Department of Environmental Conservation, called the quick-spreading disorder the "gravest threat" to bats he had ever seen. Up to 11,000 bats were found dead last winter and many more are showing signs illness this winter. One hard-hit cave went from more than 15,000 bats two years ago to 1,500 now, he said

"We do not know what the cause is and we do not know how it was spread, either from cave to cave, or bat to bat," said Hicks. "You have this potential for this huge spread."

EDIT

http://www.wtol.com/Global/story.asp?S=7801112

[gateley]

1. This is alarming -- thanks for posting it. I think. nt

[xchrom]

2. bats are wonderful -- i'm sorry to read about this. nt

[DCKit]

3. Even as far north as Albany, the winters just aren't cold enough anymore.

Each year the sugar maples are marching farther north on the east coast, insect pests are attacking pine trees from NC to AK because the winters are no longer cold enough to kill enough of them to manage the populations at a level the trees can tolerate.

Hopefully the bats will adapt and move farther north with the cold weather. Ten years from now, they might even reach the Arctic Circle.

[depakid]

4. Damn -guess folks had better be ready for an abundance of mossies

and biting flies.

[roguevalley]

5. the sadness knows no end. this is very, very sad. I love bats.

[smoogatz]

6. First the bees, now the bats.

It's another canary/coal mine moment, I'm guessing.

[kestrel91316]

7. When enough bats die, mosquitos will increase in population enough

for significant numbers of Americans to die of dengue fever. Maybe then we will sit up and take notice. But somehow I suspect we're more likely to just blame terraists.