HARRISBURG, Pa., June 5 DCNR-cave-closure-PA
HARRISBURG, Pa., June 5 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- To give biologists more time to study possible preliminary signs of a mysterious bat ailment, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources today announced that Barton Cave on Forbes State Forest, Fayette County, will remain closed this year.
Biologists from the Pennsylvania Game Commission will be monitoring bats in the cave to learn more about the possible preliminary signs of "white nose syndrome" on bats that live in the caves.
The syndrome has claimed tens of thousands of bats in New York, Vermont, Connecticut and Massachusetts.
"Each year, from October through May, we close three caves on DCNR lands, where large numbers of bats hibernate during winter, to help protect Pennsylvania's varied and valuable bat populations," said DCNR Biologist Aura Stauffer. "We are extending the routine closure at Barton Cave this year at the request of the Game Commission because we know very little about the fungus and disease."
The bat ailment has not been confirmed in Pennsylvania but during routine visits, Game Commission officials discovered a white fungus - similar to that on bats afflicted with the disease in Vermont and New York - on the ears and wings of bats at sites in Fayette, Luzerne and Blair counties. Biologists from DCNR and the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy found a fungus on bats in Barton Cave.
"This closure will allow us to study the situation and learn all we can about the possible conditions in the early stages of white nose syndrome, while not being hampered by hundreds of visitors," Game Commission Biologist Greg Turner said. "We will begin working in this area in late summer and through the fall. As other states are reporting that the disease is causing bats to die of low fat reserves, it pays to keep Barton Cave closed so that we can see if bats enter in optimal condition, and still lose fat reserves.
"A lot of states are counting on us to learn something about the early stages of this outbreak," Turner said.
In addition to its ranger patrols and cooperation of the Pennsylvania Game Commission, DCNR's Bureau of Forestry is enlisting the voluntary aid of organized caving groups to observe and report any potential damage or illegal intrusions at the gated caves.
Bats are known and valued for their enormous appetite for mosquitoes and other flying insects.
For information on Pennsylvania's bats, as well as white nose syndrome, visit www.pgc.state.pa.us, choose "Wildlife" in the left-hand column and then click on the photograph of a bat.
CONTACT:
Christina Novak
(717) 772-9101
SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
