WA: White-nose Syndrome in Bats Has Made its Way to Eastern Washington

[Shiloh]

Source: https://www.kpq.com/fatal-bat-disease-has-made-its-way-to-eastern-washington/

Fatal Bat Disease Has Made its Way to Eastern Washington
Posted By: Kalie Drago September 1, 2019

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife announced the White-nose syndrome, a typically fatal disease for hibernating bats, has made its debut for the first in Washington east of the Cascade Mountains, near Cle Elum. It was discovered after a landowner sent four dead bats in for testing.

?Washington got its first case in 2016 near North Bend in King County and since that time we have confirmed 34 other cases,? said Rachel Blomker, Communications Manager. ?So far most of the cases have been right around North Bend. And where we found this case was right over the pass, just outside of Cle Elum in Kittitas County. We don?t know if it?s spreading across the mountains or if it?s been present on the east side just as long as it has been on the west side.?..

 

[Shiloh]

Source: https://www.chronline.com/stories/b...ck-lake-other-locations-in-washington,273070?

Bat-Killing Fungus Found Near Rimrock Lake, Other Locations in Washington
Amy Smotherman Burgess
Posted Tuesday, September 21, 2021 11:14 am
Joel Donofrio / Yakima Herald-Republic

An invasive fungus that causes white-nose syndrome in bats continues to spread in Washington, with the fungus detected in late spring near Rimrock Lake.

During spring and summer field work this year, scientists with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service detected the fungus or disease in Yakima, Chelan and Mason counties, according to a news release.

WDFW scientists collected guano samples in late spring 2021 from a bat colony showing no signs of disease on Forest Service land near Rimrock Lake. Testing confirmed the presence of the fungus that causes white-nose syndrome. The bat genus was Myotis, but the specific species is unknown...