Post by jonsdigs on Apr 16, 2009 4:18:21 GMT -5
Mysterious ailment plagues U.S. bats, could reach Oklahoma
Loss of night fliers could mean more mosquitoes
NewsOK
BY SONYA COLBERG
Published: April 16, 2009
A white fungus like that on this little brown bat’s nose is caused by white nose syndrome. The newly discovered disease has already killed 1 million bats. PHOTOS PROVIDED
Bats may be the stuff of nightmares, but they are facing a nightmare of their own. A mysterious disease is wiping out bats in caves in the northeast United States, and experts say it could reach Oklahoma.
"It’s not safe to say that any of our bats are safe at this point,” said Merlin Tuttle, founder and president of Bat Conservation International in Austin, Texas.
"This is by far the most devastating threat that’s ever been seen to bats in our history.”
The worst-case scenario is that white-nose syndrome could be here in less than two years, Tuttle said. It certainly will reach the state in several years unless scientists stop it, he said.
"It would be really irresponsible to not be watching for it, but we don’t need to panic,” said Mike Caywood, park manager at Alabaster Caverns State Park near Freedom in northwest Oklahoma.
Full Story
Loss of night fliers could mean more mosquitoes
NewsOK
BY SONYA COLBERG
Published: April 16, 2009
A white fungus like that on this little brown bat’s nose is caused by white nose syndrome. The newly discovered disease has already killed 1 million bats. PHOTOS PROVIDED
Bats may be the stuff of nightmares, but they are facing a nightmare of their own. A mysterious disease is wiping out bats in caves in the northeast United States, and experts say it could reach Oklahoma.
"It’s not safe to say that any of our bats are safe at this point,” said Merlin Tuttle, founder and president of Bat Conservation International in Austin, Texas.
"This is by far the most devastating threat that’s ever been seen to bats in our history.”
The worst-case scenario is that white-nose syndrome could be here in less than two years, Tuttle said. It certainly will reach the state in several years unless scientists stop it, he said.
"It would be really irresponsible to not be watching for it, but we don’t need to panic,” said Mike Caywood, park manager at Alabaster Caverns State Park near Freedom in northwest Oklahoma.
Full Story