Post by yihunt on Apr 11, 2009 8:06:49 GMT -4
Bat disease leads to moratorium on caving
Buzz up!By Karen Price, TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Caving enthusiasts all over the Northeast are being asked to step aside from spelunking in the hopes of saving bats.
On March 26, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service issued an indefinite moratorium on all caving activity from Maine to North Carolina and inland to Ohio and Kentucky in an attempt to stop the spread of White Nose Fungus, a disease that has killed at least 400,000 bats in the past two years.
"It became clear to us that although we believe the primary mode of transmission is from bat-to-bat, it was possible that humans were aiding in the transmission," said Diana Weaver, spokeswoman for the USFWS. "There are so many unknowns with White Nose Fungus; we don't even know exactly what it is. We decided it was better to suggest we close caves and attempt to slow down the spread and give us time to find answers rather than allowing the spread to continue unchecked."
The disease was first photographed by a caver in upstate New York in February 2006 who noticed hibernating bats with a white substance growing on their muzzles. The New York Department of Environmental Conservation biologists documented the syndrome in January 2007, and there are now confirmed cases in eight additional states, including central and northeast Pennsylvania.
The disease does not affect humans, but researchers believe that cavers may be carrying the infection from cave to cave on clothing, shoes, flashlights, helmets and other gear.
"One of the ways we've seen it spread is it will leapfrog from one area to another in distances far greater than a bat would migrate which leads us to believe that humans are transporting it," Weaver said. "Another reason is because some caves that have WNS are very close to caves that don't. The ones that do have it are the ones being visited by cavers."
The Loyalhanna Grotto, a Western Pennsylvania caving group, has suspended its caving activity for the time being.
"Caving enthusiasts have a duty to protect the bat population," said Teralyn Iscrupe of the Loyalhanna Grotto and co-coordinator of caving for the Explorer's Club of Pittsburgh. "Cavers are taking it upon themselves to limit their caving activities along the east coast and in adjoining states."
Commercial caves that cater to tourists, such as Laurel Caverns in Farmington, are not affected by the moratorium.
"People come (to commercial caves) and take tours wearing regular clothes, they're not seasoned cavers who are possibly wearing old clothes or have been in other caves," said Lisa Hall, director of case studies at Laurel Caverns.
Laurel Caverns is taking precautions on its longer three-hour tours to help protect its population of approximately 2,700 bats that live deep in the cave. They don't allow any clothes, shoes or gear that's been in any cave other than Laurel Canyons, and all participants have to walk through a shoe bath of bleach water going into and coming out of the cave.
"We have very healthy caves, but right now every single bat is so important," Hall said. "The caving community is very responsible, and they're taking this very seriously. They're sad that their sport has disappeared, but this is much more important."
Buzz up!By Karen Price, TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Caving enthusiasts all over the Northeast are being asked to step aside from spelunking in the hopes of saving bats.
On March 26, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service issued an indefinite moratorium on all caving activity from Maine to North Carolina and inland to Ohio and Kentucky in an attempt to stop the spread of White Nose Fungus, a disease that has killed at least 400,000 bats in the past two years.
"It became clear to us that although we believe the primary mode of transmission is from bat-to-bat, it was possible that humans were aiding in the transmission," said Diana Weaver, spokeswoman for the USFWS. "There are so many unknowns with White Nose Fungus; we don't even know exactly what it is. We decided it was better to suggest we close caves and attempt to slow down the spread and give us time to find answers rather than allowing the spread to continue unchecked."
The disease was first photographed by a caver in upstate New York in February 2006 who noticed hibernating bats with a white substance growing on their muzzles. The New York Department of Environmental Conservation biologists documented the syndrome in January 2007, and there are now confirmed cases in eight additional states, including central and northeast Pennsylvania.
The disease does not affect humans, but researchers believe that cavers may be carrying the infection from cave to cave on clothing, shoes, flashlights, helmets and other gear.
"One of the ways we've seen it spread is it will leapfrog from one area to another in distances far greater than a bat would migrate which leads us to believe that humans are transporting it," Weaver said. "Another reason is because some caves that have WNS are very close to caves that don't. The ones that do have it are the ones being visited by cavers."
The Loyalhanna Grotto, a Western Pennsylvania caving group, has suspended its caving activity for the time being.
"Caving enthusiasts have a duty to protect the bat population," said Teralyn Iscrupe of the Loyalhanna Grotto and co-coordinator of caving for the Explorer's Club of Pittsburgh. "Cavers are taking it upon themselves to limit their caving activities along the east coast and in adjoining states."
Commercial caves that cater to tourists, such as Laurel Caverns in Farmington, are not affected by the moratorium.
"People come (to commercial caves) and take tours wearing regular clothes, they're not seasoned cavers who are possibly wearing old clothes or have been in other caves," said Lisa Hall, director of case studies at Laurel Caverns.
Laurel Caverns is taking precautions on its longer three-hour tours to help protect its population of approximately 2,700 bats that live deep in the cave. They don't allow any clothes, shoes or gear that's been in any cave other than Laurel Canyons, and all participants have to walk through a shoe bath of bleach water going into and coming out of the cave.
"We have very healthy caves, but right now every single bat is so important," Hall said. "The caving community is very responsible, and they're taking this very seriously. They're sad that their sport has disappeared, but this is much more important."