International Bat Week has come with some bad news for Californian chiropterans and their fans.
An invasive fungus that has killed millions of bats may have arrived in San Diego County, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife announced Monday.
The fungus that causes the deadly “white-nose syndrome” has already been detected in Humboldt, Sutter, Placer, Amador and Inyo counties. Since 2007-2008, millions of the little creatures have died.
Inconclusive laboratory results suggest the fungus may also be present in San Diego County, as well as Trinity, Siskiyou, Shasta, Plumas, Alpine, and San Bernardino counties.
While the CDFW says the disease has not been visibly observed in any bats in California, the fungal pathogen’s presence could mean the disease will manifest “within the next years.”
The fungus has been detected on several bat species in California, including the little brown myotis, Yuma myotis, long-legged myotis, big brown bat, Mexican free-tailed bat, and Western red bat.
California is home to at least 25 different species, and even has a state bat, the pallid bat.
The disease — so named for the white fuzzy fungal growth that appears on the faces of infected bats — affects hibernating bats. It then often causes them to end their winter hibernation prematurely and seek food and water in the cold, risking death by starvation, dehydration, exposure, or some combination of the three.
Officials said white-nose syndrome does not infect humans or other animals. However, humans can spread the disease if fungal spores from bat roosts cling to clothing or other items.
People who come across sick or dead bats, or notice bats acting strangely — such as flying or roosting outside during the winter — were advised not to handle the animals.
Instead, those sightings should be reported to CDFW. They can be reported here.
City News Service contributed to this report.
