CARLSBAD — In early May, swabs collected from cave Myotis bats in the Left Hand Tunnel area of Carlsbad Cavern and near the Rattlesnake Springs day-use area tested positive for Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd), the fungus that causes white-nose syndrome (WNS).

The park is increasing efforts to mitigate the spread of whitenose syndrome to other areas. These steps will include the decontamination of caving and research equipment before and after entry and visitor footwear.

The fungus thrives in cold, damp places where bats hibernate for the winter. It attacks and grows while they’re in an inactive state of hibernation. This damages the bats’ skin and makes them become active, burning fat they need to survive the winter. The park’s colony of migratory Brazilian free-tailed bats is not expected to suffer the same impacts as species that hibernate.