A Dangerous Time for Hibernating Bats

You may be spending more time indoors now that it is winter, but New Jersey's non-migrating bats have gone into hibernation. It is a dangerous time for them no, particularly because of white-nose syndrome. This is caused by a fungus that was originally introduced inadvertently by humans exploring caves in New York State.

The disease has decimated many bat species. It scars their wings and disrupts their hibernation patterns. One of its effects is that it causes them to wake and fly around when they should be sleeping, and so their energy reserves deplete and they die from starvation, thirst and exhaustion.

Bats are the single largest consumer of night-flying insects like mosquitoes, beetles and moths. Not only does that help humans be less bothered outdoors in the summer and decrease the spread of mosquito-borne diseases, but it this natural insect control helps our Garden State agriculture.

A little brown bat with white nose syndrome.

The most affected of New Jersey's bats is the little brown bat which was once common but has now become rare. NJ's largest hibernaculum is the old Hibernia Mine in Morris County. Before the syndrome hit our state in 2007, Hibernia was the winter home for 34,000 little brown bats. Now, there are only about 400.

The best we can say currently is that this small population seems to be leveling off.

Big brown bats seem to be unaffected by white-nose syndrome and it may be because they hibernate in different locations than the little brown bat. They prefer cold but dry places, such as attics. (If you discover bats in your attic or home, don't try to remove them on your own. Call a bat removal expert, who can safely remove them.) Caves tend to be warmer and have higher humidity which may increase the fungus spreading. When the big brown bats do use subterranean locations, they stay close to entrances where it is colder. They may, if the weather warms enough, even awaken, seek water and perhaps breed.

Modifications in the Hibernia cave to increase air flow may drop temperatures slightly, inhibiting the growth of white-nose fungus.

Little brown bats, northern long-eared bats, tri-colored bats and eastern small-footed bats are all affected by white-nose syndrome, and have been recommended for inclusion on the state's endangered species list.


More on New Jersey's bats
http://wildlife.rutgers.edu/bats/
http://www.conservewildlifenj.org/protecting/projects/bat/white-nose/
Bat Conservation International www.batcon.org.