PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) A fungus that has become deadly for millions of bats nationwide has been detected in Oregon for the first time.
The U.S. Geological Survey revealed on Thursday that the fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans was found in a bat roost at Lewis and Clark National Historical Park in Clatsop County. This fungus leads to “white-nose syndrome,” an infection that disrupts bats’ hibernation, often causing dehydration and starvation, according to the agency.
In collaboration with the National Park Service, USGS analyzed the samples as a part of a broader effort across multiple agencies to monitor bat diseases throughout the Pacific Northwest.
USGS noted, “The sample likely came from a Yuma myotis (Myotis yumanensis), which migrates from winter roosts to maternity roosts in the spring. Although no signs of white-nose syndrome have been observed in Oregon bats, they can carry fungal spores on their skin, groom themselves, and shed these spores shortly afterward through their feces or guano.”
Officials reported that since its first appearance in New York in 2007, white-nose syndrome has caused the deaths of millions of North American bats. While 41 states have confirmed cases of the infection, five other states have only detected the fungus without any white-nose syndrome cases.
This includes Washington. USGS also detected Pseudogymnoascus destructans in three bats at San Juan Island National Historical Park.
According to the agency, the fungus mainly spreads among bats during hibernation in caves, karsts, and mines, although it does not infect humans. However, items like clothing or gear used in and around caves can still spread the infection. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife urged cave visitors to disinfect their gear before leaving the site.
Since 2011, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, alongside agencies such as the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service, has been consistently monitoring the fungus at various roost sites.
