Devastating news from the Alabama Department of Conservation. Here is their press release.
CONTACTS:
Keith Hudson, Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural
Resources, 256-353-2634, Keith.Hudson@dcnr.alabama.gov
Mary Shew, National Park Service, 256-845-9605, mary_shew@nps.gov
Ann Froschauer, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 413-253-8356,
ann_froschauer@fws.gov
White-Nose
Syndrome of Bats Confirmed in Alabama
White-nose syndrome (WNS), the disease that has killed
millions of bats in eastern North America, has been confirmed in bats in the
Russell Cave complex in Jackson County, marking the arrival of the disease in
Alabama.
“White-nose syndrome had been confirmed in several counties
in Tennessee, but had yet to be discovered in Alabama until this year,” said
Keith Hudson, a biologist with the Alabama Department of Conservation and
Natural Resources. “This disease is likely one of the most significant disease
threats to bat populations in Alabama due to its potential to affect multiple
bat species and the devastating nature of the affliction. This disease is not
known to affect humans.”
Although scientists have yet to fully understand white-nose
syndrome, research has demonstrated the disease is caused by a newly discovered
fungus, Geomyces destructans, which often grows into white tufts on the muzzles
of infected bats, giving the disease its name. White-nose syndrome was first
detected in New York state in 2006 and has killed more than 5.5 million cave
dwelling bats in eastern North America. Mortality rates of bats have reached
almost 100 percent in multi-year infected caves. With the discovery of WNS in
Alabama, a total of 17 states and four Canadian Provinces have now been
confirmed with the disease. This finding in Alabama represents the
southern-most occurrence of WNS in North America.
On March 1, 2012, a team of surveyors from Alabama A&M
University and the National Park Service, coordinated by the Alabama Bat
Working Group, were conducting a bat survey in Russell Cave in Jackson County
where they saw numerous bats displaying symptomatic white patches of fungus on
their skin. Two tri-colored bats and tissue samples from a Northern long-eared
bat from the cave were sent to the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease
Study unit at the University of Georgia for testing, which confirmed the
presence of white-nose syndrome. The Russell Cave complex is a cave system that
spans several miles of cave passage, including entrances on private property,
and Russell Cave National Monument is managed by the National Park Service.
“The National Park Service has been working closely with
state and federal agencies and has implemented protection protocols to try and
limit the spread of this deadly disease,” said John Bundy, Superintendent of
Russell Cave National Monument. “Although the cave system has been closed for
10 years, access to the park’s archeological site remains open.”
-more-
“We have worked closely with Alabama
Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the Alabama Bat Working
Group to prepare for white-nose syndrome,” said Mike Armstrong, USFWS Regional
WNS Coordinator. “Now that it is confirmed here, we will continue to work with
the state and our federal partners in their research and management of the
disease.”
WNS is known to be transmitted primarily from bat to bat,
but fungal spores may be inadvertently carried to caves by humans on clothing
and caving gear. Cave visitors are encouraged to check with landowners before
entering any caves or mines, and to follow U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
decontamination protocols to reduce the risk of human assisted transport of
fungal spores.
Bats are an important part of our nation’s ecosystems, and
provide significant pest control services to American farmers. Insectivorous
bats likely save the U.S. agricultural industry at least $3 billion dollars
each year, or approximately $74 per acre for the average farmer. Alabama is
home to 15 species of bats, including federally listed endangered Gray and
Indiana bats.
White-nose syndrome does not pose a threat to humans, pets
or livestock. Physical signs associated with WNS are a white fungus on the
bat’s nose, wings, ears or tail membrane, although affected bats do not always
have visible fungus. Bats afflicted with WNS often exhibit unusual behavior in
winter, including clustering near hibernacula entrances. Affected bats also may
leave their hibernacula during the day and may be observed flying or clinging
to rocks outside or on nearby buildings. Dead or dying bats are often found on
the ground near affected areas. To report unusual bat activity persons can use
the Alabama Bat Working Group’s website at:
http://alabamabatwg.wordpress.com/report-a-bat/.
For more information about white-nose syndrome, visit http://www.fws.gov/whitenosesyndrome.
For more information about bats in Alabama, visit http://www.outdooralabama.com/watchable-wildlife/what/mammals/Bats/
or http://alabamabatwg.wordpress.com/.
For more information about Russell Cave National Monument,
visit http://www.nps.gov/ruca/index.htm
The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
promotes wise stewardship, management and enjoyment of Alabama’s natural
resources through five divisions: Marine Police, Marine Resources, State Lands,
State Parks, and Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries. To learn more about ADCNR,
visit www.outdooralabama.com .
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