(Host) The Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife is asking people to report any bat sightings. The information will be used to track a deadly bat sickness.
Bats in Vermont, New York and Massachusetts have been affected by a disease called "white nose syndrome" that has been discovered in 16 caves. It gets its name from white fungus that appears around the nose. The fungus may be linked to a disease that’s deadly for bats.
Wildlife biologists have received reports of bats leaving their caves and flying — even in daylight — in Arlington, and Pownal and as far north as Glover.
Bat Biologist Scott Darling says that’s unusual because most bats hibernate until mid-April.
Darling says the bats are clearly affected by the white nose syndrome, even if they don’t have the tell-tale white fungus.
(Darling) "They cannot withstand these temperatures, there’s no food for them, and what we suspect is happening is that these bats have lost nearly all of their weight and they’re simply making a last journey to find food before they die."
(Host) Darling says the department is able to use these reports of bats to find new caves and mines to help monitor the spread of the disease. But he says they often find signs that the cave has been affected.
(Darling) "When we arrive some of these caves that have affected bat populations, we see bats flying outside the cave, we see them hanging outside the cave entrance, and we observe dead bats lying in the snow. And until we can even begin getting a handle on what is causing this all we’re able to do is collect specimens for lab analysis and monitor the spread of this affliction."
(Host) Darling says ten labs are studying the disease, and it may have affected up to 500,000 bats.
Anyone who sees a bat flying, or who finds a dead bat in the month of March can call the USDA Rabies hotline number: 1-800-472-2437.
The Department says there’s no evidence that the disease can be transmitted to humans. But they say people should still not handle dead bats unless absolutely necessary, and to wear gloves and clean up with a bleach solution if you do.
AP Photo/Mike Groll