White-nose syndrome suspected in Lincoln National Forest cave
CARLSBAD, N.M. (KRQE) – Samples from Cottonwood Cave in Eddy County tested positive for Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd), the fungus that causes white-nose syndrome (WNS), the U.S. Forest Service and Fish and Wildlife Service said.
“The information provided in the test results will be critical in guiding our management actions,” Rhonda Stewart, a wildlife biologist for the Lincoln National Forest, said in a press release. “We have been monitoring and implementing prevention measures for over a decade and are looking at ways to expand our efforts for detection of Pd, as well as decontamination procedures for WNS. We will continue to work closely with our partners in a concerted effort to do what we can to slow the spread of the disease.”
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White-nose syndrome has likely killed millions of bats across North America since 2006, officials said. It’s currently found in 40 states, but poses no known risk to humans, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
The recent detection of the fungus suggests bats at Cottonwood Cave may have white-nose syndrome (WNS). But without confirmation, officials are considering the bats “WNS (disease) suspect.” If confirmed, it would be the first detection on National Forest Service lands in the state, although state-operated lands did see the disease last year.
The cave is roughly 10 miles from Carlsbad Caverns, but the Forest Service says Carlsbad Caverns has not yet seen a positive case of white-nose syndrome in 2024.
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Officials are working to prevent the further spread of white-nose syndrome. That includes requiring special permitting for individuals entering caves in the Lincoln National Forest – all Lincoln National Forest caves are closed to the general public. Decontamination of caving equipment is also required.
“As white-nose syndrome pushes further into the West, we are working to understand the ways in which the disease is spreading and the impacts to western bat species,” said Jeremy Coleman, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Coordinator for white-nose syndrome research, said in a press release. “There are several tools being tested now to combat WNS and improve survival in susceptible bats. Given the documented spread in 2024, we encourage land managers to follow national guidance by taking action to limit further spread of the fungus.”
