Oklahoma remains clear of white-nose syndrome in bats

A fungus that has killed an estimated 1 million bats in 18 states has been found in only one bat in Oklahoma, officials said.

The bat with cave myotis was collected alive May 3, 2010, and tested positive for geomyces destructans, the fungus that causes the condition known as white-nose syndrome. The fungus grows on hibernating bats' skin — particularly their noses and wings — and is often fatal.

“The weird thing about this bat last May is that it was so far away from other white-nose syndrome areas,” Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation spokesman Micah Holmes said.

The bat tested positive but did not develop white-nose syndrome, Holmes said.

The state Department of Wildlife Conservation takes samples from 18 caves. The latest samplings in January and February showed no signs of the fungus in caves or the 22 species of bats native to the state, he said.

“From Oklahoma's perspective, we hope it doesn't come, but we are looking for it,” Holmes said.

A reduction of bats could lead to increased numbers of insect pests that damage forests and agriculture, and bat droppings — or guano — are the major contributor of nutrients into many cave systems. The loss of bats could disrupt cave ecosystems and put rare and unique cave fauna in jeopardy, according to the wildlife service.

Holmes said the number of bats in Oklahoma is undiminished.

That is good news for the Selman Bat Watch, which celebrates its 15th year this summer. About 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats travel 1,400 miles every year to give birth in the Selman Bat Cave Wildlife Management Area near Freedom, according to state Department of Wildfire Conservation biologist Melynda Hickman.

Bat-watchers are bused into the area Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings during July, she said.

The area — owned by the University of Central Oklahoma — is only open to the public during the bat watches. The Selman cave system, which is about three miles long, is where the infected bat was found last year, Hickman said.

Bat watch groups meet at Alabaster Caverns State Park, she said.

There have been no reported incidents of fungus at the Alabaster Caverns, which gives tours of the largest natural gypsum cave open to the public, a park spokeswoman said.

But eastern areas of North America haven't been so lucky.

While Oklahoma marks the westernmost documented case of the fungus, it has been found on bats in 18 states and four Canadian provinces. Fearing its westward expansion, New Mexico officials last month closed 28 caves native to bats for the next two years.

Forest service officials in northern Idaho, Montana, North Dakota and northwestern South Dakota are considering similar closures.

On Tuesday, the Interior Department announced a plan to address the threat of the fungus. A total of $10.8 million has been invested in the fight against the fungus since 2007 and more than 100 state and federal agencies, tribal organizations and individuals are involved in the national response.

“There's been no human illnesses attributed to this fungus, and as far as we know, it doesn't affect any other organisms either,” Holmes said.