A DISTURBING UNKNOWN
Pennsylvania Game Commission bat biologists still have not found evidence that White-Nose Syndrome - responsible for killing tens of thousands of cave bats in New York and New England - has reached Pennsylvania. But, the deadly disorder is expected to once again turn the world of bats upside-down in the Northeast this winter.
Wildlife officials say that white-nose syndrome (WNS) is as mysterious today as when it first surfaced in a cave near Albany, New York, in 2006. Despite the coordinated efforts of an incredibly talented team of more than two dozen wildlife agencies, universities and institutions, WNS continues to baffle researchers who are trying to unravel the tangled mess cave bats now find themselves in. There are plenty of clues and few conclusions.
"We still don't know what causes WNS, where it came from, or if we can stop its spread to other states," said Carl G. Roe, Game Commission executive director. "But, the Game Commission is committed to finding answers that will help wildlife managers better understand WNS and hopefully find ways to limit its impact."
WNS was named originally for the white fungus that grew on the muzzles of afflicted bats in New York. Whether the fungus is the cause or a symptom of WNS continues to be debated. Researchers have now isolated and genetically sequenced the white fungus found on the muzzles of afflicted bats. They believe this fungus grows best in the cold, clammy caves and mines bats use as hibernacula, or hibernation sites.
For more information, please visit the Pennsylvania Game Commission - State Wildlife Management Agency website:
http://www.pgc.state.pa.us/pgc/cwp/view.asp?a=11&Q=174877
