Yellowstone National Park announced this week that biologists conducting summer bat surveys discovered the fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans – the cause of white‑nose syndrome – on 28 little brown bats from two colonies in the park’s northern region. This is the first confirmed detection of the pathogen in Yellowstone since systematic monitoring started in 2019.
What is white‑nose syndrome?
White‑nose syndrome is a fungal disease that has devastated bat populations across North America. The fungus damages the skin of hibernating bats, causing them to awaken more frequently during winter. Those extra awakenings deplete the animals’ fat reserves, often leading to death before spring. Affected bats develop a characteristic white coating on their muzzles and wings and may be seen flying in daylight despite freezing temperatures.
How the disease spreads
The pathogen spreads primarily through direct contact between bats, but it can also linger on surfaces within hibernation sites. While the fungus does not pose a health risk to humans, park officials warn that visitors can inadvertently transport spores on clothing or gear after entering affected caves.
Park guidance for visitors
Yellowstone urges all visitors to avoid handling bats and to report any unusual bat behavior to a park ranger. By minimizing human‑borne spread, the public can help protect the park’s bat populations, which play a vital role in controlling insects, pollinating plants, and dispersing seeds.
Broader impact and recent findings
The disease was first identified in upstate New York in 2006 and has since spread to most U.S. states and Canadian provinces. In some regions, wintering bat numbers have declined by as much as 99%, leading to local extinctions of several species. Bats reproduce slowly—typically one pup per female each year—making recovery from such losses especially challenging.
In addition to Yellowstone, the fungus was also detected this year in Glacier National Park, underscoring the expanding geographic reach of the threat.
Yellowstone’s bat diversity
Yellowstone is home to 13 bat species, including little brown bats, big brown bats, long‑eared myotis, long‑legged myotis, Townsend’s big‑eared bats, fringe‑tailed bats, hoary bats, silver‑haired bats, spotted bats, pallid bats, California myotis, western small‑footed myotis, and Yuma myotis. Bats represent roughly 20% of all mammal species worldwide, making them the second‑largest mammalian group after rodents.
Looking ahead
Park officials plan to continue intensive monitoring and to work with federal wildlife agencies on mitigation strategies. Protecting these essential pollinators and insect controllers aligns with broader conservation goals that benefit both the natural environment and the communities that enjoy Yellowstone’s wilderness.
Original reporting: Buckrail (Jackson WY) — read the source article.
