White Nose Syndrome/Cave Closures

Update: WNS has now tested positive in Missouri! sad10

http://www.fws.gov/northeast/white_nose.html

Very sad day in caving. IL went ahead and shut down their state run caves too. It will be nice when they get a cure for this. Some guy was telling me that they are testing anti-fungal footpower. He heard that was working. Had anyone else heard this???

Looks like they might be close to a cure.

 
http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/bi...ts-for-white-nose-syndrome-1.621220
 
http://www.boston.com/news/local/co...n_anti_fungal_treatments_for_white_

I had to shut down two caves on my lease to the grotto's. I have seen the bats flying during the day. A sure sign they say,,, hope the figure out what the wns is.
TnMtns

I had to shut down two caves on my lease to the grotto's. I have seen the bats flying during the day. A sure sign they say,,, hope the figure out what the wns is.
TnMtns

I noticed this was listed in Aug.
Bats do fly periodically in the daytime, it's actually hibernating bats that come out that is the concern.
Have you had anyone go in to see if your neck of the woods is infected? Fish and Wildlife has personnel on hand for verification or may be working locally with a grotto out there for verification.
I wish you luck and and pray you don't have it near you.....

Our grottos have been fortunate in that we've developed good relations with out local cave owners.
Of course several of our cave owners are grotto members, lol...

@Martimus Rex
No, anti fungal foot powder is not an option. Too much friendly fungi in a cave environment, the whole eco system has to be taken into consideration.

Please don't dust your caves with that stuff!

I@Martimus Rex
No, anti fungal foot powder is not an option. Too much friendly fungi in a cave environment, the whole eco system has to be taken into consideration.

Please don't dust your caves with that stuff!

[/quote]

I didn't and the article didn't say anything about spreading foot powder around. In fact it said they did not want people to self treat. Maybe you should read the entire article.

 Yeah I was a caver and climber for years. I live in the cave belt of the south. The bats I saw were flying during the day in the winter. I am keeping out cavers till we learn more.
hh
TnMtns

i read on cavechat that they have proven that wns cannot be transferred from cave to cave by cavers. just to update caveowners.