Bat experts caution about threat of white-nose syndrome

Published On: Feb 05 2013 11:56:05 PM MST
White Nose Syndrome Decimating Bat Population


A disease that has killed millions of bats across the country may be heading toward New Mexico.

In order to prepare, the Bureau of Land Management met with experts on Tuesday night to try to protect New Mexico's bats from white-nose syndrome. White-nose syndrome has killed 5 million bats nationwide, but the disease does not harm humans.

"Bats play a really enormous ecosystem role for us, and it's something we don't realize," said Marikay Ramsey of the BLM.

Experts say one bat can eat thousands of insects in one night.

"When you get large populations like at Carlsbad Caverns. They can eat a ton of insects," said the BLM's Jim Goodbar. "If that's the mosquitoes that are biting you or the beetles eating up the crops, that helps the agricultural industry from having to spend so much money."

Some estimates predict the disease could arrive in New Mexico in the next three years, but some people fear it could be sooner.

"I see nothing stopping it," Ramsey said. "There's no reason why it won't make it to New Mexico."

"The biggest concern would be somebody from a contaminated area in the northeastern part of the country that would come here and participate in a project without decontaminating their gear and bring the fungus that causes white-nose syndrome here to New Mexico," said Steve Peerman, project director for the Fort Stanton Cave Study Project.

During Tuesday's meeting, experts from across the state explained to cavers how not to spread the disease. They also discussed agency closure policies to protect bat populations.

Experts said white-nose syndrome has hurt cave in the East that use bats as tourist attractions. They said it could have a similar effect on Carlsbad Caverns if the disease reaches New Mexico.


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