News Release

P. destructans detected at Canyonlands

Date: September 18, 2024
Contact: SEUG Public Affairs, 435-260-0713

MOAB, Utah—Opportunistic sampling completed in May of this year has confirmed Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd), the fungus that causes white-nose syndrome disease in bats, has been found in Utah at Canyonlands National Park (Needles district). At this time, there is no evidence of white-nose syndrome or bat mortality from the disease in the park or in Utah.

The fungus was detected on a Townsend’s big-eared bat roosting in a mine adit and in an environmental sample collected from the floor of that same mine. No other positive detections on bats have been observed at this time.

This is the first detection of Pd in Utah. However, the fungus and the disease it causes have been confirmed in bats in multiple surrounding states. White-nose sydnrome has killed millions of bats across North America and has now spread to 40 states and nine Canadian provinces. The Utah State Division of Wildlife Resources and partnering federal agencies will continue further surveillance and monitoring to better understand the spread of Pd and white-nose syndrome and its potential impact to bats in Utah.

Bats are important for healthy ecosystems and anyone can help protect them. Never handle bats and report unusual bat behavior, sick or dead bats to your local bat expert. Minimize disturbance by avoiding caves and mines where bats are known or suspected to hibernate. Respect all cave closures and follow white-nose syndrome decontamination guidelines when cleaning gear used for recreating in underground environments like caves and mines. For more information on how you can help, visit White-nose Syndrome Response Team – How you can help.

For more information, visit White-nose Syndrome - Bats (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov).