Wyoming biologists search for bats amid worries over disease

Wyoming wildlife biologists have mounted an emergency effort to locate and identify bat species across the state, following the discovery of a fungus that causes fatal white-nose syndrome in the animals.

The Powell Tribune says as part of the state’s efforts, recordings will be collected in areas known to have bats to determine what species are present.

Wyoming Fish and Game biologist Nichole Bjornlie says the disease can take several years to take hold, but is 90 to 95 percent fatal to bats.

A bat with the fungus that causes white-nose syndrome was captured on May 16 during surveys by University of Wyoming field biologists.

The researchers are working on a white-nose surveillance project funded by the National Park Service.