Caves shut as agencies fight bat fungus

CARLSBAD, N.M. (KRQE) - New Mexico is right in the path of a disease spreading across the U.S.

It's a disease affecting bats, and it's leading to the continued closures of caves in an area well-known for caverns.

White nose syndrome , or WNS, is a fungal disease spreading among hibernating bats.

"The bats get that fungus on their muzzle and wings and interfemoral membranes and it causes them to wake up in the middle of the winter," explained Jim Goodbar, Bureau of Land Management Carlsbad Field Office senior cave and karst resource specialist.

Goodbar said the fungus causes the bats to fly around and search for food in the winter, which in turn causes them to burn the stored fat they have to survive.
   
Part of protecting the bats means extending cave closures.  Up to 28 caves on BLM land in the state--seven of them in Eddy County and three at Carlsbad Caverns. It's a decision many cavers may not be happy with. 

Many of the closed caves include those among those in the the Guadalupe Mountains and previously recreational backcountry caves at Carlsbad Caverns.  One of the biggest closures is the Fort Stanton Cave in Lincoln County.

These caves have been closed due to WNS for the past two years and will continue to be off-limits.

"We'll never have enough science to make 100 percent sure, but if we're going to err in our management decisions, we'll err on the side of resource protection," Goodbar said.  "In this case it's to protect the bats."

The disease was found in the U.S. in 2007 in New York and followed the bat migration pattern to Oklahoma. Goodbar said WNS was likely transported from Europe, and that areas with higher elevation and lower temperatures appear to be more susceptible.

It's been confirmed in 21 states, and land officials want to keep it out of New Mexico.

"Bats are vitally important to our communities and to the ecosystem," explained Goodbar. "They provide us with some very, very natural insecticides."

In fact, Goodbar said bats can eat up to 1,000 insects per hour, which ultimately saves farmer's money and crops.

"If you ever look down at Carlsbad Caverns where they have tens of hundreds of thousands of bats, they could eat as many as six tons of insects," he said.

Humans are not affected by white nose syndrome. However, humans can likely transmit the disease to bat populations with their clothing and caving equipment if everything is not properly disinfected.

Goodbar said hundreds of cavers from around the world come to New Mexico every year. With Carlsbad Caverns and the Guadalupe Mountains, the area is a Mecca for cavers and is on many bucket lists.

For that reason, officials say keeping the caves and bats free of disease is crucial.

Officials from the BLM, National Park Service and U.S. Forest Service will host a public meeting in Carlsbad to inform people about cave closures and changes they'll include.

That meeting will be Monday night from 6:30-8 p.m at the BLM office in Carlsbad. They'll host another meeting Tuesday evening at 6:30 at the BLM office in Albuquerque.