Oklahoma remains clear of white-nose syndrome in bats
BY MATT DINGER mdinger@opubco.com
Published: May 22, 2011
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Posted on Tagnet by Cheryl Jones
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.
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