Tweet
The Center for Biological Diversity’s Petition for Administrative Bat Cave Closures
On January 21, 2010, the Center for Biological Diversity filed a petition with the federal
government, requesting measures to protect bats at risk from the spread of the newly
emergent, highly lethal bat illness known as white-nose syndrome (WNS). The requested
actions focused on administrative closures of bat-inhabited caves throughout the
continental United States. The restrictions would be maintained until it is clear that bats
are not at risk from possible human transmission of the disease. This document responds
to common concerns and frequently asked questions about the Center’s petition.
Q. Does the petition apply to all caves and mines in the country?
A. No. The petition addresses bat-inhabited caves and mines only. Further, the petition
requests administrative closure of bat caves and mines on federal land only. With regard
to non-federal land, the Center has requested that the federal government make
recommendations to state government agencies and to private cave owners to the effect
that bat cave administrative closure to nonessential access is strongly advised.
Q. Does the petition call for caves to be sealed off or otherwise made physically
inaccessible to people?
A. No. The petition calls for administrative action, not physical barriers. Sealing off or
blocking caves, except with bat-safe gates installed by experts, can do great damage to
cave ecosystems and would be devastating to bats. The petition seeks restrictions on
human activities in caves, not physical alteration of caves.
Q. If implemented, would the petition prohibit all human access into bat caves?
A. No. The petition seeks restrictions on nonessential human access into bat-inhabited
caves and mines, until it is clear that it is safe for bats for the restrictions to be lifted.
Access for scientific research, especially on WNS, and to protect human safety (e.g.,
rescues), would be permitted to continue.
Q. Is there any evidence that white-nose syndrome is spread by people?
A. Yes. Evidence of people spreading WNS exists but is not conclusive at this time
because not enough research has been conducted. The Center actively supports more
research to determine the extent of human involvement in the spread of WNS. Bats also
appear to spread the disease themselves, because some affected caves have not had
human visitors in many years. The human-transmission theory is still that — a theory —
but several pieces of evidence suggest that humans are a factor in the spread of this
disease:
• The pattern of spread is discontinuous and has been described as “leapfroggingâ€
because sequentially infected caves and mines are located great distances apart,
farther than infected bats are likely to disperse. In 2008-2009, WNS jumped from
hibernacula in southern New York to sites in central Pennsylvania, northern
Virginia, and eastern West Virginia, a distance of more than 500 miles. No bat
species affected by WNS is known to migrate more than 250 miles annually,
substantially less than this major southward expansion in the range of WNS
during 2008-2009. Scientists have thus come to believe that while bat-to-bat
transmission may be primarily responsible for the local or regional spread of
white-nose, some other vector is carrying the disease to new and distant sites.
• The first caves to become infected in Virginia and West Virginia were popular
recreational caves, and records from the Northeastern Cave Conservancy show
that individuals who had visited WNS-infected caves in New York state
subsequently entered these caves. Additionally, many caves inaccessible to
humans in the region are as-yet unaffected by the disease.
• Data from trials at the National Wildlife Health Center indicate that Geomyces
destructans, the fungus associated with WNS, can be acquired from the bats’
environment as well as transmitted among bats.
• The genetic signature of Geomyces destructans was confirmed in sediment from
infected hibernacula, indicating that the fungus is present in environmental
materials within these caves, and thus has the potential to be acquired and
transmitted by humans moving between hibernacula.
• Though the origins of WNS in North America are not clear, Geomyces
destructans was recently confirmed on a healthy bat in France. There are reports
of the fungus on bats in several other European countries, but affected bats do not
appear to be ill. WNS behaves in many ways like other introduced diseases,
where host species that have evolved with the pathogen have developed
resistance, and new, “naive†hosts have little or no immunity. If Geomyces
destructans was indeed carried to the United States from Europe, humanmediated
transmission is the likely means. Bats are not known to migrate across
the Atlantic, and are very unlikely to have the physiological capacity to make
such a flight.
Q. If it’s not proven that people can spread WNS, then why does the petition request
restricting people from going into caves?
A. Because bat species and cave ecosystems are at immediate, grave, and unprecedented
risk from the spread of WNS, until scientists know more about how the disease spreads,
restricting human access into bat caves for the time being is an important precautionary
step. Consider an analogous situation with a new disease that might develop in humans.
In the case of an unknown, highly lethal, apparently contagious illness, the cautious
approach would be to restrict suspected vectors for disease transmission as much as is
reasonably possible. The temporary suspension of nonessential human access into bat
caves on federal land is a reasonable response to an unprecedented wildlife disaster
On January 21, 2010, the Center for Biological Diversity filed a petition with the federal
government, requesting measures to protect bats at risk from the spread of the newly
emergent, highly lethal bat illness known as white-nose syndrome (WNS). The requested
actions focused on administrative closures of bat-inhabited caves throughout the
continental United States. The restrictions would be maintained until it is clear that bats
are not at risk from possible human transmission of the disease. This document responds
to common concerns and frequently asked questions about the Center’s petition.
Q. Does the petition apply to all caves and mines in the country?
A. No. The petition addresses bat-inhabited caves and mines only. Further, the petition
requests administrative closure of bat caves and mines on federal land only. With regard
to non-federal land, the Center has requested that the federal government make
recommendations to state government agencies and to private cave owners to the effect
that bat cave administrative closure to nonessential access is strongly advised.
Q. Does the petition call for caves to be sealed off or otherwise made physically
inaccessible to people?
A. No. The petition calls for administrative action, not physical barriers. Sealing off or
blocking caves, except with bat-safe gates installed by experts, can do great damage to
cave ecosystems and would be devastating to bats. The petition seeks restrictions on
human activities in caves, not physical alteration of caves.
Q. If implemented, would the petition prohibit all human access into bat caves?
A. No. The petition seeks restrictions on nonessential human access into bat-inhabited
caves and mines, until it is clear that it is safe for bats for the restrictions to be lifted.
Access for scientific research, especially on WNS, and to protect human safety (e.g.,
rescues), would be permitted to continue.
Q. Is there any evidence that white-nose syndrome is spread by people?
A. Yes. Evidence of people spreading WNS exists but is not conclusive at this time
because not enough research has been conducted. The Center actively supports more
research to determine the extent of human involvement in the spread of WNS. Bats also
appear to spread the disease themselves, because some affected caves have not had
human visitors in many years. The human-transmission theory is still that — a theory —
but several pieces of evidence suggest that humans are a factor in the spread of this
disease:
• The pattern of spread is discontinuous and has been described as “leapfroggingâ€
because sequentially infected caves and mines are located great distances apart,
farther than infected bats are likely to disperse. In 2008-2009, WNS jumped from
hibernacula in southern New York to sites in central Pennsylvania, northern
Virginia, and eastern West Virginia, a distance of more than 500 miles. No bat
species affected by WNS is known to migrate more than 250 miles annually,
substantially less than this major southward expansion in the range of WNS
during 2008-2009. Scientists have thus come to believe that while bat-to-bat
transmission may be primarily responsible for the local or regional spread of
white-nose, some other vector is carrying the disease to new and distant sites.
• The first caves to become infected in Virginia and West Virginia were popular
recreational caves, and records from the Northeastern Cave Conservancy show
that individuals who had visited WNS-infected caves in New York state
subsequently entered these caves. Additionally, many caves inaccessible to
humans in the region are as-yet unaffected by the disease.
• Data from trials at the National Wildlife Health Center indicate that Geomyces
destructans, the fungus associated with WNS, can be acquired from the bats’
environment as well as transmitted among bats.
• The genetic signature of Geomyces destructans was confirmed in sediment from
infected hibernacula, indicating that the fungus is present in environmental
materials within these caves, and thus has the potential to be acquired and
transmitted by humans moving between hibernacula.
• Though the origins of WNS in North America are not clear, Geomyces
destructans was recently confirmed on a healthy bat in France. There are reports
of the fungus on bats in several other European countries, but affected bats do not
appear to be ill. WNS behaves in many ways like other introduced diseases,
where host species that have evolved with the pathogen have developed
resistance, and new, “naive†hosts have little or no immunity. If Geomyces
destructans was indeed carried to the United States from Europe, humanmediated
transmission is the likely means. Bats are not known to migrate across
the Atlantic, and are very unlikely to have the physiological capacity to make
such a flight.
Q. If it’s not proven that people can spread WNS, then why does the petition request
restricting people from going into caves?
A. Because bat species and cave ecosystems are at immediate, grave, and unprecedented
risk from the spread of WNS, until scientists know more about how the disease spreads,
restricting human access into bat caves for the time being is an important precautionary
step. Consider an analogous situation with a new disease that might develop in humans.
In the case of an unknown, highly lethal, apparently contagious illness, the cautious
approach would be to restrict suspected vectors for disease transmission as much as is
reasonably possible. The temporary suspension of nonessential human access into bat
caves on federal land is a reasonable response to an unprecedented wildlife disaster
Comment