Product Type: Journal Article Author(s): Castle, K.T. and P.M.
Cryan Castle, K.T. and P.M. Cryan. 2010. White-nose syndrome in
bats: A primer for resource managers. Park Science 27(1): 20-25.
This publication is available from National Park Service .
White-nose syndrome emerged as a devastating new disease of
North American hibernating bats over the past four winters. The
disease has spread more than 1,600 kilometers (1,000 mi) since
it was first observed in a small area of upstate New York, and
has affected six species of bats in the caves and mines they
rely on for winter survival. A newly discovered, cold-loving
fungus (Geomyces destructans) causes the characteristic skin
infection of white-nose syndrome and can infect presumably
healthy bats when they hibernate. Although clear links between
skin infection by G. destructans and death have not yet been
established, the fungus is the most plausible cause of the
disease. Thousands of caves and mines are administered by the
National Park Service. Although bats