WHITE NOSE SYNDROME AND YOU: Keeping your gear clean 
can keep bats safe ... we explain on Passport to Texas.

This is Passport to Texas

If caving is one of your pastimes, here's something you 
should know: a fungal disease called white nose 
syndrome has been is killing North American bats since 
2006. 

07 -- There are certain caves where bats hibernate where 90 to 100 
percent of the bats that hibernate in that cave have died from the 
disease.


The fungus is also found in European caves though the 
bats there are essentially immune. This suggests the 
fungus may have evolved with their bats. TPW 
mammalogist, Jonah Evans says researchers speculate 
people who visited European caves may have unwittingly 
brought fungal spores into North American caves on 
shoes or other gear. To prevent the spread of white nose 
fungal spores by humans ... 

10 -- Avoid entry into caves if at all possible, otherwise do a very 
stringent decontamination and be really careful about getting cleaned 
up when you leave a cave.



Find decontamination protocol at passporttotexas.org.

So why care? Bats are beneficial agricultural allies, eating 
tons of insects during their nightly flights, allowing 
farmers to reduce or eliminate insecticide use on food 
crops, and save money. They also serve as pollinators of 
important crops and are just fascinating animals.

The WSFR program supports our series ... and receives 
funds from your purchase of fishing and hunting 
equipment and motor boat fuel.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife, I'm Cecilia Nasti.

https://www.whitenosesyndrome.org/sites/default/files/
resource/national_wns_revise_final_6.25.12.pdf


Total sound bite time:			0:17.0
Maximum Script time:			0:68.0	 	 Suggested show time: 85.0 = 1:25