03-01-2008, 01:31 PM
First came reports of the collapse of many bee colonies. Soon, the announcement was made that rabbits had disappeared from Yellowstone National Park. Then the disappearance of the Minnesota moose was announced. Now comes word the disease killing bats in the northeastern US appears to have spread. Do these deaths and disappearances of several very different species have a common denominator?
By HOWARD WEISS-TISMAN, Reformer Staff
Friday, February 29
BRATTLEBORO -- As scientists around the country try to determine what is killing off thousands of bats in the Northeast, the state is asking for help identifying the problem after a dead bat was recently discovered in Brattleboro.
Thousands of dead bats have been found in New York, and the problem is showing up in Massachusetts and now Vermont.
Prior to the Brattleboro sighting, the problem was mostly confined to the southwestern corner of Vermont.
But Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department bat biologist Scott Darling confirmed Thursday that a Brattleboro resident found a dead bat in the yard, leading the agency to call on residents to report any dead bats that they might find.
"Right now we are looking at everything to try to figure this out," Darling said. "There is no way we can cover the whole state and we are looking for help from people who come across any bats in the next few weeks."
According to Darling, any bat that is outside of a cave this time of year is sick and probably dying of the mysterious disease.
The disease, white nose syndrome, has been found in three Vermont caves; in Mount Tabor, Dorset and Manchester.
Along with the Brattleboro sighting, dead bats were also found in Pownal and as far north as Glover in the last few weeks.
Scientists know very little about the disease. Some of the bats were found with white fungus on their muzzles, though the fungus has not been found on every dead bat. It has not been determined whether the fungus is causing the sickness or is the symptom of a different disease.
Bats hibernate in caves all winter and then travel hundreds of miles in the spring and summer. Darling said the bats seem to be coming out of hibernation sick and are flying around, furiously looking for food. He said anyone who comes across a dead, or living bat, in the coming few weeks should call the agency and report it.
Bats normally leave their wintering areas in the spring, so sightings after the end of March are not uncommon and should not be reported.
The agency is trying not to spread fear, or overstate the risk of humans getting sick from the disease, but he stressed that people should not touch the bats.
If a bat must be handled, it should be picked up with gloves that would prevent bites. Any materials used in handling the bats should be discarded or washed in a hot water, detergent and 10 percent bleach solution. "We are encouraging people not to handle the bats. We don't want to create fear but we don't know the cause and we want people to be cautious," Darling said.
Five of the six species of bats in Vermont have been found with the disease, he said.
Bats have a very low reproduction rate, typically giving birth to only one pup a year.
Darling said up to 500,000 bats in the state could be affected and it could take years for the species to rebound.
"This is happening quickly and dramatically and the bats are showing a 95 percent fatality rate," he said. "It is scary and disconcerting and we can't get our arms around the problem."
http://www.reformer.com/ci_8403137?source=most_viewed
By HOWARD WEISS-TISMAN, Reformer Staff
Friday, February 29
BRATTLEBORO -- As scientists around the country try to determine what is killing off thousands of bats in the Northeast, the state is asking for help identifying the problem after a dead bat was recently discovered in Brattleboro.
Thousands of dead bats have been found in New York, and the problem is showing up in Massachusetts and now Vermont.
Prior to the Brattleboro sighting, the problem was mostly confined to the southwestern corner of Vermont.
But Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department bat biologist Scott Darling confirmed Thursday that a Brattleboro resident found a dead bat in the yard, leading the agency to call on residents to report any dead bats that they might find.
"Right now we are looking at everything to try to figure this out," Darling said. "There is no way we can cover the whole state and we are looking for help from people who come across any bats in the next few weeks."
According to Darling, any bat that is outside of a cave this time of year is sick and probably dying of the mysterious disease.
The disease, white nose syndrome, has been found in three Vermont caves; in Mount Tabor, Dorset and Manchester.
Along with the Brattleboro sighting, dead bats were also found in Pownal and as far north as Glover in the last few weeks.
Scientists know very little about the disease. Some of the bats were found with white fungus on their muzzles, though the fungus has not been found on every dead bat. It has not been determined whether the fungus is causing the sickness or is the symptom of a different disease.
Bats hibernate in caves all winter and then travel hundreds of miles in the spring and summer. Darling said the bats seem to be coming out of hibernation sick and are flying around, furiously looking for food. He said anyone who comes across a dead, or living bat, in the coming few weeks should call the agency and report it.
Bats normally leave their wintering areas in the spring, so sightings after the end of March are not uncommon and should not be reported.
The agency is trying not to spread fear, or overstate the risk of humans getting sick from the disease, but he stressed that people should not touch the bats.
If a bat must be handled, it should be picked up with gloves that would prevent bites. Any materials used in handling the bats should be discarded or washed in a hot water, detergent and 10 percent bleach solution. "We are encouraging people not to handle the bats. We don't want to create fear but we don't know the cause and we want people to be cautious," Darling said.
Five of the six species of bats in Vermont have been found with the disease, he said.
Bats have a very low reproduction rate, typically giving birth to only one pup a year.
Darling said up to 500,000 bats in the state could be affected and it could take years for the species to rebound.
"This is happening quickly and dramatically and the bats are showing a 95 percent fatality rate," he said. "It is scary and disconcerting and we can't get our arms around the problem."
http://www.reformer.com/ci_8403137?source=most_viewed