New England Residents Tracking Daytime Bat Flights - White Nose Disease Driving Bats From Caves

Massachusetts and Vermont wildlife officials are asking for the public’s help to identify bats affected by the mysterious white nose syndrome. Bats are normally in deep hibernation this time of year in ice-encrusted caves and abandoned mines across the Northeast. But researchers say they are beginning to get calls of bats weakly flying around in broad daylight or dying on decks and in backyards. Scientists believe the bats are leaving caves to find food but dying before they can find any.

The illness was first seen two winters ago, when thousands of bats died in four New York caves within seven miles of each other. Many of the bats had an unusual white fungus on their nose and bodies which gave rise to the name white nose syndrome. By last winter, 25 caves and mines spread across 135 miles were found to have sick or dying bats in Massachusetts, Vermont, Connecticut, and New York. Pennsylvania bats may also be affected.

"Citizens living near caves or mines with affected bats are witnessing unusual levels of activity and mortality of these animals,” says Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department biologist Scott Darling. He said the affected bats may seek shelter in residences, buildings and other structures in an effort to escape cold temperatures. “This type of behavior is occurring even earlier than last year, perhaps because White Nose Syndrome has further compromised the health of our bat populations over the past year,” he said.

Environmental officials in Massachusetts say they have only received one call about daytime bat flight -- in Lanesborough, but expect more calls. They and Vermont officials want residents who see bats during the day to call them in order to track the sickness. Massachusetts wildlife official Tom French said there is a worry that people may not see bats -- not because they are safely hibernating but because the disease may have wiped out populations in caves and mines.

EDIT

http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/green/greenblog/2009/01/sick_bats_being_seen_earlier_t.html