KBIA Local
(2010-05-07)
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COLUMBIA, MO
(KBIA) -
Missouri residents may not be able to cool off in their favorite state caves this summer. As KBIA's David Teeghman reports, it's part of an attempt to prevent the spread of a disease that has decimated bat populations. Most caves in Missouri state parks will be closed this summer as the state deals with the spread of a disease that has killed more than a million bats. White Nose Syndrome has spread westward ever since it was first discovered in New York state in 2006. That march west continues as one case has just been identified in a Missouri cave. But the Missouri Department of Natural Resources' spokesman Judd Slivka says more than 60 caves will remain open, even as 110 close.
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"These closures are a precautionary measure, so what we're hoping is that this ounce of prevention will be many pounds of cure."
The Department of Natural Resources thinks this plan might work because the disease is usually spread through mud. As seasoned cave spelunkers explore several different caves, they track mud with them. White Nose syndrome might be in that piece of mud, and could infect a clean cave. So what's the big deal? The disease prevents bats from hibernating in the winter. But with a higher metabolism and not enough bugs around to feed their appetite, Slivka says the bats usually don't fare well."Typically, a bat with white nose syndrome will end up either starving to death, because they can't find the forage, or freezing to death."
However, Missouri's larger commercial caves will remain open. But if spelunkers visited a cave in the eastern United States recently, they may want to just stay home. People who have visited caves in the eastern United States are most at risk of spreading the infection, and may be asked to not enter the caves. © Copyright 2012, KBIA