Bat deaths in NY, Vt. baffle experts

By MICHAEL HILL, Associated Press Writer
Wed Jan 30, 5:04 PM ET



ALBANY, N.Y. - 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."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080130/ap_on_sc/bat_die_off;_ylt=ArzKD5R3tvah.JJt1pcGI88iANEA


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"white nose syndrome?"

Hmmm. Hibernating in crack-dens?

this could have a devastating affect. Bats consume incredible amounts of insects. If you thought the skeeters were bad before, wait til thousands of bats disappear.

with them, and rabies is a huge problem in New England.

Bats are incredibly social animals, so it's no wonder an infectious disease is spreading cave to cave.

I'm still glad I don't live in mosquito country any more. This summer will be a miserable one.

outbreak too. Although bats carry rabies they are not as bad (as least in the Mid-Atlantic) as the racoons and foxes.

I took care of somebody who survived that one. It wasn't pretty, weeks of thrashing with seizures we couldn't control with anything but paralytics, meaning she spent most of her time tubed and on a vent. She did eventually recover though, once she stabilized enough to get her to rehab.

I wouldn't wish that one on a Republic.