White-Nose Syndrome Reaches Glacier National Park's Bats
The fungal disease that has killed millions of bats was confirmed on the park's east side, a first for Glacier County. A vaccine trial there is under way.
Glacier National Park has confirmed white-nose syndrome in a dead little brown bat found in the Saint Mary area in May, and the fungus that causes it in several live bats sampled on the east side in June, the park said October 21. They are the first detections in the park and in Glacier County.
The disease infects bats while they hibernate, making them wake repeatedly and burn through fat reserves, often leading to starvation and death. Since it was found in New York in 2006 it has spread across North America. Glacier has 10 documented bat species, all insect-eaters that are also prey for raptors and weasels.
The park is part of a field trial of a vaccine against the disease: between 2024 and 2026, biologists tagged 529 bats, giving 265 the vaccine and 264 a placebo, to compare survival as they come out of hibernation.
For visitors, the usual precautions apply: do not handle bats, and decontaminate caving or climbing gear used where bats roost before using it elsewhere, following federal white-nose syndrome guidance. Report dead or sick bats to park staff.
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