You are here

Exhibit At Great Smoky Mountains National Park Addresses White-Nose Syndrome in Bats

Share

A new exhibit, and a video, examine the bat populations of Great Smoky Mountains National Park and explain the threat posed to the mammals by white-nose syndrome. NPS photo.

The role of bats in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and a deadly disease that threatens their existence, is the subject of an exhibit at the park's Sugarlands Visitor Center.

A video recently released by the park looks at both bat and cave resources and the threat of the often fatal disease known as white-nose syndrome to the Great Smoky's bat populations. The in-depth vide, produced by Great Smoky Mountains Association, can be found at this page on the park's website.

“The educational materials provide a wealth of information on bat biology, their roosting and foraging behavior, the potential implications of WNS and what researchers and biologists are doing to manage this threat, as well as how the public can help protect bats,” said Bill Stiver, a park wildlife biologist.

Great Smoky is home to at least 11 species of bats, a primary group of flying mammals that play a critical role in the health of ecosystems by consuming forest and agricultural crop insects—such as moths, beetles and mosquitoes. One of the species in the park, the Indiana bat, is federally endangered, according to a park release, and another, the Rafinesque’s big-eared bat, is a state listed species of concern in both Tennessee and North Carolina.

In the winter of 2010, two little brown bats in a park cave tested positive for a newly-described fungus, Geomyces destructans, which is thought to be the cause of WNS, a symptom that appears on the faces of bats as a white frothy substance.

Back in 2009, in a bid to prevent the unintentional spread of the fungus by people, the park closed all of its 16 caves and two mine complexes to public entry. Great Smoky's caves serve as important hibernacula (place of rest) and the closure is still in effect as researchers try to understand how the disease is being transmitted from bat to bat and from cave to cave.

Those who violate the closure face fines of up to $5,000 or six months imprisonment.

WNS was first detected in the Northeast in 2006 and is quickly spreading south and has been found in cave systems as far west as Oklahoma. According to biologists from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, WNS is taking a heavy toll on bats that hibernate in caves and mines and has the potential for wiping out federally-endangered species such as the Indiana bats and even more common species of bats such as the little brown bat.

Scientists theorize that the fungus irritates the bats, making them restless and causing them to wake early burning precious fat reserves needed during winter hibernation. They speculate that the affected bats could freeze to death or starve before the insects on which they feed emerge in the spring. There is still much to be learned about WNS. Fish and Wildlife Service officials say that no human illnesses related to the disease have been documented, but humans could certainly feel the effects of losing entire bat species which help to keep insect populations in check. One little brown bat can eat up to 1,000 of those pesky mosquitoes in one hour.

The National Park Service is taking an active role in developing monitoring and surveillance strategies and containment protocols for its caves. Officials at Great Smoky Mountains National Park are cooperatively working with other parks and federal, local and state agencies across the country to protect bats and manage cave habitats.

Ongoing research in the Smokies includes monitoring bat populations in the winter during hibernation and tracking bats in the summer to determine habitat use. Park biologists are taking additional steps to better understand bat populations and their habitats to help officials identify potential impacts of this fungus on the Smokies resources.

This winter biologists will test other bat species for the fungus.

Park managers are also asking visitors to help biologists monitor bats by reporting unusual bat behavior, appearing out of season, or one that appears to be sick or injured. For human safety, it is important not to touch or handle a bat. Reports on bat incidents inside the park can be made to the park’s visitor centers or a Park Ranger. Unusual bat activity outside the park should be reported to state wildlife agencies.

Add comment

CAPTCHA

This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.

Image CAPTCHA
Enter the characters shown in the image.

The Essential RVing Guide

The Essential RVing Guide to the National Parks

The National Parks RVing Guide, aka the Essential RVing Guide To The National Parks, is the definitive guide for RVers seeking information on campgrounds in the National Park System where they can park their rigs. It's available for free for both iPhones and Android models.

This app is packed with RVing specific details on more than 250 campgrounds in more than 70 parks.

You'll also find stories about RVing in the parks, some tips if you've just recently turned into an RVer, and some planning suggestions. A bonus that wasn't in the previous eBook or PDF versions of this guide are feeds of Traveler content: you'll find our latest stories as well as our most recent podcasts just a click away.

So whether you have an iPhone or an Android, download this app and start exploring the campgrounds in the National Park System where you can park your rig.