After much debate and deliberation, I feel this topic needs to be answered. After all, the nature conservancy in Tennessee, The United States Fish and Wildlife Service, most all of the news articles pertaining to WNS, say we can. This response to the public has just as much credence as the nuclear plant just down the street overheating and radiating vast populations of people. This can happen, yes I agree, but does it happen? do we spread WNS ? In the past three years 100% of the evidence says WE DO NOT! Sure we could spread the spores, sure we can bring dirt and other substance from one cave environment into another. Most of the cave environments are very similar and contain similar species. So is that any different than walking from my yard to my neighbors yard and tracking similar dirt? Not one bit! I strongly concede that bats in maternity and hibernation wards should be avoided so they can do their thing without much interruption. But lets be truthful here! Speculation has sent many of good people down a dangerous path. Speculation has no facts. Speculation must be avoided! The first signs of WNS required constraint and time, to gain some understanding towards facts. Never ever should humans have been named as a vector! Early on we could have been considered possible until, what we now know shows bat to bat for sure, do and will, continue to be the vector. The problem now, is humans have gone from a possible to probable vector in more recent remarks from official sources. Official sources are now asking private land owners to close their caves? I have a huge concern here! What has happened? So the question , Do cavers spread WNS?, must be answered, or the caves must be opened. A post response to Cheryl (a long time 10 years or 100 years) is not realistic! If our great science cannot figure this out, then we will have to change science!
I wanted to edit this to show humiliation I received. I told a customer in conversation that "I am a caver" and received a reply " So you guys are spreading the bat disease"