Bat-Killing Syndrome Spreads in Northeast

[Hissyspit]

Source: Associated Press

Bat-killing syndrome spreads in Northeast
By MICHAEL HILL (Associated Press Writer)
From Associated Press
February 03, 2009 9:12 PM EST
ROSENDALE, N.Y. - A mysterious and deadly bat disorder discovered just two winters ago in a few New York caves has now spread to at least six northeastern states, and scientists are scrambling to find solutions before it spreads across the country.

White-nose syndrome poses no health threat to people, but some scientists say that if bat populations diminish too much, the insects and crop pests they eat could flourish. Researchers recently identified the fungus that creates the syndrome's distinctive white smudges on the noses and wings of hibernating bats, but they don't yet know how to stop the disorder from killing off caves full of the ecologically important animals.

"The cause for concern is that this is going to race across the country faster than we can come up with a solution," said Alan Hicks, a wildlife biologist with New York state's Department of Environmental Conservation. "Now that is entirely possible." Bats with white-nose burn through their fat stores before spring, driving some to rouse early from hibernation in a futile search for food. Many die as they hunt fruitlessly for insects.

White-nose syndrome spread fast last winter to dozens of caves in New York and southern New England, within a roughly 150-mile radius of the caves west of Albany, N.Y., where it was first found. Early observations show it has reached farther still this winter, even before cave inspections and bat counts begin in earnest this month. Bats with white-nose syndrome were found recently in northern New Jersey's Morris County and in an old iron mine in Shindle, Pa., more than 200 miles away from the outbreak's epicenter. In addition, the Pennsylvania Game Commission on Tuesday said that hundreds of little brown bats, a species devastated by white-nose syndrome, were found dead from the disorder outside two mines in the northeastern part of the state.

Read more: http://enews.earthlink.net/article/nat?guid=20090203/4987dd60_3ca6_1552620090203756057649

[libnnc]

1. while bats creep me the fuck out...

I hate disease carrying mosquitoes more.

:scared:

[Lorien]

2. This is seriously bad. Bats are one of the only things that stands between

us and plagues of insects. The devastation to crops will be enormous if this can't be stopped. :scared:

[InvisibleTouch]

3. I love bats.

I hope someone is seriously working on a cure for this.

[StarryNite]

4. I love bats too!

Bees now bats, what will be next?

[truthisfreedom]

5. Us.

[harmonicon]

7. I doubt that

It'll be people and cock roaches in the end, I'm afraid.

"Nice owl. Is it real?"

[EFerrari]

8. Cockroaches, ants and fleas. We'll be long gone.

[Jamastiene]

11. I love them too.

I hope they find a cure quick.

[caseymoz]

6. Hmmm. First the bees, now the bats.

Between them, they're going to knock out agriculture. There's not too many more mysterious environmental crises that we can handle. I wouldn't say it as anything but a metaphor, but the earth is fighting back.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

9. The Hellstrom Chronicle

[Liberty Belle]

10. Bats are also being decimated by wind farms; their radar can't detect the wind turbines so

they get hacked up by the blades at far higher rates than birds, and the bird kills are disturbing, too.