A potentially catastrophic threat has emerged for bat populations in Moffat County, as the highly contagious white-nose syndrome reaches closer to their habitat.

Two ‘little brown bats’ infected with white-nose syndrome were recently discovered in Colorado’s front range, raising concerns about the impact on local bat populations and ecosystems.

The first infected bat was found on Feb. 29, crawling along a public bike path in Longmont. Wildlife experts determined the bat was severely dehydrated, with brittle wings preventing it from flying. Following further testing, the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Health Lab confirmed the bat was suffering from white-nose syndrome, marking the first documented case of the disease in ‘little brown bats’ in Colorado.

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A second case was confirmed two weeks later in Boulder, indicating a potential spread of the disease among bat populations in the region.

White-nose syndrome, caused by an invasive fungus, has wreaked havoc on bat populations across North America since its first documentation in New York state in 2006. The disease has now been confirmed in 12 North American bat species, spanning 40 states and eight Canadian provinces.

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White-nose syndrome was first discovered in Colorado in March 2023 in a Yuma bat collected by National Park Service staff at Bent’s Old Fort near La Junta. The white-nose fungus has been found in other locations in Colorado, but the two “little brown bats” are only the second and third bats discovered with clinical signs of the disease.

The syndrome’s arrival in Colorado poses a significant threat, considering that at least 13 out of the state’s 19 native bat species may be susceptible to the disease. The main mode of transport for the fungus is from bat to bat, making it virtually impossible to stop its spread in the wild. The fungus can be transported on gear and clothing that has been in contact with contaminated environments, such as caves where bats hibernate. 

White-nose-syndrome causes damage to the bats’ wing skin and tissue, affecting circulation, internal temperature and hydration, and eventually leading to death.

Dan Neubaum, Colorado Parks and Wildlife Species Conservation Program Manager, shared that the tissue of infected bats “looks basically like flaking or crumpling paper. It’s so dehydrated that it’s just disintegrating and breaking off of the wing.”

Neubaum added that the lethal syndrome has “attributed to the biggest decline in bat populations in North America that we’ve ever documented. So any other conservation threats we’ve been worried about over the years, they kind of pale in comparison to this disease.”

Neubaum noted that while the disease swept rapidly across much of the county, it seemed to slow once it hit the geographical barrier of by the Rocky Mountains. However, as the fungus spreads north, it could circumvent the mountain range, making it more likely to enter Moffat County from Wyoming. However, Neubaum added that the fungus has already been detected in Routt County, suggesting that it’s already closer to Moffat County than anticipated.

Neubaum emphasized the urgent need for surveillance and monitoring efforts to track the potential spread.

“Our big push, prior to the disease really getting here, has been to just document our bat populations and learn what species occur, where, and which ones are common, where, so that we knew what we at least started with,” he said.

In addition to including testing for the presence of the fungus at winter hibernacula and summer maternity roosting sites, Neubaum shared that officials are “trying to think creatively” in an effort to combat the disease, citing a potential “topical” vaccination that could be applied to the surfaces of roosting sites, causing the bats to ingest it while grooming themselves.

“We’re hopeful that (the vaccination) might give us really our first tool to be proactive and actually try to protect bats from the disease,” he said, adding that if it proves effective, “we can just try to deploy it to as many individuals as possible, and that might protect this subset and help recover the population. “

The impact of white-nose syndrome extends beyond ecological concerns, as bats play a crucial role in maintaining the balance of ecosystems and agricultural economies. With estimates suggesting bats contribute $3 billion annually to the U.S. agricultural economy through pest control, any large-scale loss of bat populations could have far-reaching consequences.

“Moffat County definitely has a lot of agriculture, and so losing some of these species in significant numbers, it could actually cause an impact,” Neubaum said.

As Neubaum and Colorado Parks and Wildlife continue to monitor the spread of the disease, they are reaching out to the public for assistance.

“There are two things we’re asking for: one, if a bat turns up either in the winter or spring and they look sick, please report them and let us know — that way we can test the animals and see where the fungus is spreading. And two, report any roosting site or roosts that the bats use in the summer, where they form big colonies — those (sites) would give us a place to proactively apply some of these other measures, like the vaccination.”

Neubaum emphasized that bats in Western Colorado are likely to be found roosting in rock crevices or cliff faces, typically alone or in small numbers.

He shared his hope that given these solitary tendencies, the spread of the disease may be slower in Colorado — but also noted that Colorado bats’ are also generally smaller in size, which may make them more vulnerable to the effects of the fungus.

“We do feel like the story may play out a little differently, and we’re hopeful that will be the case,” Neubaum said. “But time will tell. And the surveillance work we’re doing in the next several years will be a big part of helping us learn how that is playing out.”

To report sick or grounded bats or potential roosting sites, individuals are encouraged to contact Colorado Parks and Wildlife at 303-291-7771 or email wildlife.batline@state.co.us.

For more information on white-nose syndrome and decontamination guidelines, visit CPW’s website or the official website of the National White-Nose Syndrome Response Team.