White-nose syndrome response to save bats — your compliance is essential —

Take it from this bat guy — “The Obomination response to Ebola is just bat sh*t crazy”

but too overbearing to save humans?

Thanks to KK for reminding us of the regulations issued by the National Park Service regarding an often deadly disease affecting only the bat population. Below is a regulation addressing visitors to Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky. We witnessed similar regulations posted while visiting the Carlsbad Caverns National Park in New Mexico three years ago. The bat population and flights are a major tourist attraction there.

White-nose syndrome is caused by a cold-loving fungus called Geomyces destructans. The fungus invades bats’ skin where it is not covered by fur, such as the muzzle, wings and ears. The fungus forms white patches on these areas, giving rise to the name.

The fungus attacks bats while they are hibernating. It disrupts their hibernation and may cause starvation or dehydration. Scientists are actively studying the fungus to determine how it kills the bats . . .

Do not wear any clothing, or carry any objects into Mammoth Cave that you wore or carried with you in any cave or mine since 2005. Please leave any potentially contaminated objects at home or in your vehicle.

You will not be allowed to go on the tour with clothing or items that have been in affected caves or mines. Your compliance is essential in this regard.

The Carlsbad New Mexico Current-Argus quotes the park rangers there:

 despite the low odds of the disease spreading to the bat population of Carlsbad, rangers aren’t taking any chances.

“There’s always a concern,” Gohlke said. “We never feel like we are in the clear and that’s why we take these precautions.”

The equivalent response regarding Ebola would be to ban entry unless the travelers went through a decontamination (quarantine) process.

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