White Nose Syndrome
- Helpful brochure about White Nose Syndrome and precautions you can take, published by the NSS can be obtained from here.
Quick Reference for Decon Protocols for Cave Activity
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
At last night’s CCS meeting Cyndi Mosch gave an overview of
protocols for decontaminating caving gear to stop the spread of White Nose
Syndrome (WNS). Attached is a one-page Fish and Wildlife document on the
subject dated June 2009. Please share with other cavers. We still have no
confirmed cases of WNS in Colorado, but now is the time to be vigilant. If
you have been caving in one of the WNS-affected or adjoining states, PLEASE
be sure to decontaminate your gear before using it in Colorado or other
western states. The Forest Service is currently requiring that all of its
personnel and contractors decontaminate their gear between caves in
Colorado.If you come across a group of dead bats (>5), or dead bats that
look ‘beat up’, please photograph them and note their location, but do not
pick them up. Such occurrences should be reported to the local land managing
agency, or Fish and Wildlife Service if found on private land.The CCS will do its best to communicate Colorado-related news about
WNS as it becomes available. As of right now the focus in Colorado is on
preventing the spread of WNS into the state, and monitoring for signs of its
arrival.The NSS is maintaining a great page with up-to-date WNS info:
http://www.caves.org/WNS/Please share this information with your grottos and among the caving
community.Carl
Chairman, Colorado Cave Survey