Sick bats being seen earlier this winter in Massachusetts, Vermont
Little brown bats affected by white nose syndrome.
By Beth Daley, Globe Staff
Massachusetts and Vermont wildlife officials are asking for the public’s help to identify bats affected by the mysterious white nose syndrome.
Bats are normally in deep hibernation this time of year in ice-encrusted caves and abandoned mines across the Northeast. But researchers say they are beginning to get calls of bats weakly flying around in broad daylight or dying on decks and in backyards. Scientists believe the bats are leaving caves to find food but dying before they can find any.
The illness was first seen two winters ago, when thousands of bats died in four New York caves within seven miles of each other. Many of the bats had an unusual white fungus on their nose and bodies which gave rise to the name white nose syndrome. By last winter, 25 caves and mines spread across 135 miles were found to have sick or dying bats in Massachusetts, Vermont, Connecticut, and New York. Pennsylvania bats may also be affected.
"Citizens living near caves or mines with affected bats are witnessing unusual levels of activity and mortality of these animals,” says Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department biologist Scott Darling. He said the affected bats may seek shelter in residences, buildings and other structures in an effort to escape cold temperatures. “This type of behavior is occurring even earlier than last year, perhaps because White Nose Syndrome has further compromised the health of our bat populations over the past year,” he said.
Environmental officials in Massachusetts say they have only received one call about daytime bat flight -- in Lanesborough, but expect more calls. They and Vermont officials want residents who see bats during the day to call them in order to track the sickness. Massachusetts wildlife official Tom French said there is a worry that people may not see bats -- not because they are safely hibernating but because the disease may have wiped out populations in caves and mines.
“Some caves in New York saw 97 percent mortality,’’ French said. He said Massachusetts officials will be visiting the state's known bat hibernation sites in coming weeks to assess the progression of the sickness.
Residents who see dead or dying bats -- or observe them flying around in the daytime in Massachusetts -- are asked to call MassWildlife at 508-759-3406. In Vermont, residents are asked to go to www.vtfishandwildlife.com and click on the Sick-acting Bat Citizen Report Form, or call 802-786-0055.
While the syndrome is not considered dangerous to humans, people having dead or dying bats on their property should not handle the animals unless necessary, and parents should advise children not to pick up any bats. All bats should be handled with gloves or tools.
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i thought last year this was supposedly due to global warming. I guess since this year is cooler, we have to look for the real reason.
The last comment, posted by Tom, is indicative of a lack of understanding behind the science of global warming. Many people confuse global warming and normal weather patterns. Global warming describes the consistent change in climactic cycles of the whole earth using variable data gathered over decades. Weather, on the other hand, changes daily in a local area, at times dramatically, without lasting effects on the environment such as disrupting ecosystems or causing species to become extinct. The fact that one day, one week or one year is cooler than another in a particular geographical area is a part of normal weather variation. If, however, a cooling or warming trend continues over a long period of time, and data shows it to be part of a larger pattern of interconnected change around the globe, then the change is a part of a global pattern. These poor bats are suffering and a plausible theory is that it's due to global warming, as is the demise of the world's frog population. It could just as easily be an entirely different reason, and only further investigation will uncover the cause. However, simply because last year was cooler or warmer than this year has no bearing whatsoever on the theory of global warming in general, nor upon the probablility of global warming as the cause of the sickened bats.
This is so so sad:( I still sleep with a stuffed animal bat!!! I'm 11!!! I feel so bad for them:( I wonder what i could do to help?
WNS has been largely unexplained. There have been many theories, but global warming was not one with any standing. This year they have figured out what the fungus is - an artic strain of fungus, but there is still no indisputable reason for death. No only do you not have a good understanding of global warming, it seems that you don't understand WNS.
WNS is caused by the proliferation of wireless technologies in recent years, such as cell phone towers and antennas. Whether it is because these microwaves and electromagnetic fields work directly to disrupt sleep, causing the bats to awaken and use up their fat stores, or whether this radiation promotes the growth of fungus, EMF/RF exposure is involved. I'd go so far as to say that wireless technologies may, in fact, be triggering that long overdue magnetic pole reversal. I say this as someone who has been deathly ill with Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity beginning in the mid 90's, when the Telecommuncations Act of 1996 was passed, allowing the cell phone industry permission to radiate us any time anywhere.
Very interesting comment, Carol. I intend to follow up on your thinking with some research of my own over the next few days.
Beth, thank you so much for keeping an eye on this situation with the bats. A few of us out here have been following this for about two years now and we appreciate the update.
Bats. Polar bears. Small amphibians. Brown pelicans. Whales. All having trouble over the last few years.
This blogger might want to review your comment before posting it.
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