Bat from cave in Mammoth Cave National Park tested positive for deadly white-nose syndrome
MAMMOTH CAVE, Ky. - Mammoth Cave National Park says tests have confirmed that a bat from one of the park's caves had white-nose syndrome, a disease that has killed millions of bats in eastern North America.
Park Superintendent Sarah Craighead says the northern long-eared bat was found in Long Cave and euthanized two weeks ago. The undeveloped cave is not connected to Mammoth Cave and hasn't been open to visitors for more than 80 years. Tours of Mammoth Cave will continue.
The park said Wednesday that bats there tested negative for white-nose syndrome the last four years. The disease has killed more than 5.5 million cave-dwelling bats in the eastern third of North America as it spread south and west.
Love Cave is 1.3 miles long and is the park's largest bat roost-cave, housing endangered Indiana bats and grey bats, along with other nonthreatened species.
