Karst

Conservation

Bats & White-Nose Syndrome

White-Nose Syndrome (WNS) has killed millions of North American bats. Cavers can carry the fungus that causes it between caves on muddy gear and clothing. A few minutes of decontamination protects the bats that make these caves what they are.

Follow the current official protocol. The National WNS Decontamination Protocol is the authoritative source and is updated periodically — approved products, temperatures and affected regions change. This page is an overview; always check the official protocol before you go.
Official decontamination protocol

What it is

WNS is a disease of hibernating bats caused by the fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd) — named for the white fuzz it leaves on bats' muzzles and wings. It thrives in the cold, damp conditions of caves and rouses bats during hibernation until they burn through the fat reserves they need to survive winter. It spreads bat-to-bat, but Pd spores also travel on cave sediment — so gear, boots and clothing can move it from cave to cave, and region to region.

The golden rule

Don't move the fungus. Decontaminate between every cave.

The single most important thing is to never carry gear from a WNS-affected area into a clean one. Where you can, keep a dedicated set of gear for a single cave or region.

How to decontaminate

  1. Remove all mud and sediment. Pd lives in cave sediment — brush and rinse every surface of boots, pads, ropes and packs before you leave the site.
  2. Clean & treat with an approved method. For submersible gear, hot-water immersion (per the official protocol's temperature and time) kills Pd; for items that can't be heated, use a currently approved disinfectant. Check the official protocol for the exact products, temperatures and contact times — they're revised over time.
  3. Dry gear fully before using it again.
  4. Keep gear separated. Don't pack decontaminated and dirty gear together; ideally dedicate gear to one cave or region.

Respect closures

Many caves close seasonally to protect hibernating bats, and some are closed year-round. Stay out of closed caves and honor seasonal hibernation closures (roughly the cold months) — disturbing hibernating bats is itself harmful. On Karst, a cave marked Seasonal closure in its condition reports is usually a bat closure. Report unusual bat die-offs or bats active in winter to your state wildlife agency.

Source of truth: the National WNS Decontamination Protocol at whitenosesyndrome.org. When in doubt, follow it — not this page. Back to caves →