Clark County, NV: The Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) has confirmed the presence of Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd), the fungal pathogen that causes white-nose syndrome in bats, in Nevada for the first time. The National Park Service detected the fungus on a California leaf-nosed bat during routine monitoring efforts in Lake Mead National Recreation Area in Clark County. While Pd was confirmed in the sample, no bats showed clinical signs of the disease, white-nose syndrome.
White-nose syndrome, which primarily affects hibernating bats, has caused the deaths of millions of North American bats since it was first documented in New York state in 2006. As the fungus spread steadily westward, Nevada remained one of the last states without a confirmed detection until now. Fourteen of Nevada’s 23 bat species are known to hibernate and are therefore potentially susceptible to the disease. Of these, several species in the genus Myotis are known to be especially vulnerable.
“We knew it was a matter of time before Pd arrived in Nevada and we have been vigilantly surveying bats for many years now, not only for this fungus but also to track their population trends,” said Jonathan Young, NDOW Wildlife Staff Specialist. “Nevada’s bats are incredibly important, and this fungus could have serious implications for their conservation. We will continue to monitor the situation and increase our efforts to reduce the spread of this fungus through continued equipment sterilization, habitat protection, and increased public education.”
Bats provide critical benefits to Nevada’s ecosystems, including consuming large quantities of insects and supporting the health of agricultural and natural landscapes. While Pd poses a serious risk to bat populations, it does not impact humans or pets.
NDOW and its partners have been preparing for the arrival of Pd since 2014 through statewide monitoring and implementation of the Nevada White-Nose Syndrome Response Plan. With this first detection confirmed, NDOW and partners will continue monitoring Nevada bats to determine how widespread the fungus is. Pd is primarily spread by bat-to-bat contact but can also be spread by humans on contaminated clothing and equipment. Ongoing efforts are also underway to protect important bat habitats, particularly abandoned mines, through wildlife-friendly closures. People are urged to avoid entering abandoned mines both for their own safety and to prevent unintentionally carrying the fungus to new bat sites.
For more information on living responsibly around bats, visit Living with Bats – Nevada Wildlife. To learn more about white-nose syndrome and view the National White-Nose Syndrome Response Plan and guidance for reducing the risk of unintentionally moving the fungus, visit: https://www.whitenosesyndrome.org/.