Bat troubles
-
- January
- 30
Quick, to the bat cave . . . Actually, that’s exactly where state wildlife authorities and caving organizations DON’T want you to go – at least until the cause of whatever is killing thousands of bats is determined.
Seems thousands of hibernating bats spending the winter in caves in New York and Vermont are succumbing to a disease of unknown origin.
“The most obvious symptom involved in the die-off is a white fungus encircling the noses of some, but not all, of the bats. Called “white nose syndrome,â€? the fungus is believed to be associated with the problem, but it may not necessarily contribute to the actual cause of death. It appears that the impacted bats deplete their fat reserves months before they would normally emerge from hibernation, and die as a result,” according to the state Department of Environmental Conservation.
Until a cause is determined, people are being asked to stay out of caves, so the disease isn’t transmitted from one cave to the next.
Indiana bats, a state and federally endangered species, are possibly the most vulnerable, the DEC pointed out.
If you’re asking yourself why we need bats, go here.
And, for a good overall view of bat conservation, go here.
This entry was posted
on Wednesday, January 30th, 2008 at 5:30 pm by Mike Risinit.
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Journal News staff writer Greg Clary writes Earth Watch, reporting on environmental issues in the lower Hudson region. Clary has been a reporter, editor and columnist at the Journal News since 1988 and has covered police and courts, transportation, municipal government, development and the environment in the Lower Hudson Valley, among other topics. 
Laura Incalcaterra covers the environment, open space and zoning and planning issues for The Journal News. A Boston College graduate, Laura grew up in Rockland, attended East Ramapo schools and has worked for The Journal News since 1993. Laura has written features and covered North Rockland, crime, government and a host of other issues.
Mike Risinit covers Patterson and Kent in Putnam County, as well as environmental topics touching on the Hudson River and the Great Swamp. Risinit has been a reporter at The Journal News since 1998.
