White-nose syndrome was first detected at four caves and mines in New York last winter, where it is believed to be associated with the deaths of approximately 8,000 to 11,000 bats -- more than half the wintering bat population in those caves.  This winter, WNS has again been found at the previously affected New York sites, and has spread to at least seven other caves or mines there as well as two caves in Vermont.  Over 200,000 bats hibernate at these sites.  The sites affected last year were located in a relatively small area – all fell within a 12 km radius.  Affected sites now cover a much larger area – WNS is spreading.

The little brown bat is the most common species at the affected sites, and has suffered the greatest losses.  Endangered Indiana bats have also died, raising concerns about the impacts on a species already at risk.  Other affected bat species include the eastern pipistrelle and the northern long-eared bat.  It appears that all species that hibernate at affected sites may be at risk.

Indiana bats, protected by the federal Endangered Species Act, as well as state laws, range across much of the eastern United States.  Indiana supports the largest hibernating population of the species.  About 238,000 Indiana bats, approximately 46 percent of the total population, winter in Indiana caves.  Another 15 states have populations of hibernating Indiana bats.  In 2007 over 50,000 Indiana bats hibernated in New York, most in sites that are now affected by WNS.

The focus of current efforts among conservation agencies and organizations is on determining the cause of bat deaths.  Until the cause is known, it is not possible to determine how WNS is spread and evaluate possible treatments.  The Service is working closely with the states of New York and Vermont, where biologists are investigating the geographic extent of the outbreaks and collecting samples of affected bats.  To date, all affected sites are in Region 5, which has taken the lead on WNS coordination for the Service.  The Bloomington, Indiana Field Office has the lead for coordination in Region 3.  Many laboratories, including government, university and private facilities, are coordinating their efforts to analyze samples to help determine the cause of the bat deaths. 

The Service is developing a geographic database to track the location and other pertinent information on WNS sites.  This information will be critical in tracking the extent and spread of WNS and in coordinating research efforts.  The Service is also partnering with the Northeastern Cave Conservancy to track movements of cavers that have visited affected sites in New York (see http://www.necaveconservancy.org/default.php). 

In some Northeastern states, systematic searches of caves and mines looking for signs of WNS are ongoing.  Region 3 has requested that no one go into bat hibernacula in Region 3 states looking for white-nose syndrome bats at this time.  However, some surveys and other research are scheduled to take place in Indiana bat hibernacula this year, and these activities can proceed if both the State and Service offices concur.  Region 3 has developed "Interim Procedures for Researchers Entering Indiana Bat Hibernacula: Precautions Relative to White-nose Syndrome."  These procedures should be followed by any researcher entering an Indiana bat hibernacula in Region 3 this winter (and should be encouraged in hibernacula of other species as well).  Several major hibernacula in Region 3 have been visited this winter, and no sign of WNS has been observed. 

There are some “red flags” to be aware of in the vicinity of bat hibernacula – there have been observations of unusual behaviors associated with affected sites in the Northeast:

1) Increased reports of bats flying outside in cold weather or dead bats found outside, particularly in the vicinity of hibernacula.

2) Bats concentrating near the entrance of hibernacula.  For example, at one affected cave in New York one-half to two-thirds of the hibernating bats were located near the hibernacula entrance (in areas where very few bats would normally be clustered).

3) Increase in the number of carcasses found in or near the entrance of hibernacula, or increased evidence of scavenging (e.g., scats with bat bones).

4) Increased number of submissions of bats to the state rabies lab.  Last year, winter submissions from the Albany County region, the area in NY that was affected by WNS, to the State Health Department of Myotis spp. were 10 times higher than mean submission rates over the last decade. 

There is a “Message to Cavers” posted on Region 3’s WNS web site http://www.fws.gov/midwest/Endangered/mammals/inba/BatAilment.html.  Cavers should be directed to this web site for important information on cave closures and advisories, and for information on how cavers may be able to help prevent what could be a continent-wide spread of a previously unidentified pathogen to all caves and mines, and all our cave-dwelling bat populations. 

Links to additional information on WNS are also posted on the web site.

A fund has been established by Indiana State University’s Center for North American Bat Research and Conservation to help cover research and response costs associated with WNS.  Contact information for the Bat Center is available at <http://www.indstate.edu/ecology/centers/bat.htm>.