WEBVTT

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- Invasive species are
a problem in general,

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but also in caves.

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For example, bat populations
have been devastated

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by White Nose Syndrome, an
invasive fungus in caves.

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Let's hear more about how bats

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in United States are threatened.

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- Hello, my name is Jonathan Reichard

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and I work for the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service,

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where I help bats affected
by White Nose Syndrome.

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White Nose Syndrome is a disease

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caused by the fungus
Pseudogymnoascus destructans,

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which we call Pd for short.

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Pd grows in cold, dark, damp places,

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like caves and mines where bats go

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in the winter to hibernate.

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During hibernation, they
allow their body temperatures

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to drop to near freezing and by doing so,

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they survive the winter
months only on energy

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they have stored in their bodies

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because there are no
insects around to eat.

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While bats are relatively
inactive during hibernation,

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Pd attacks and grows on them.

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The fungus can look like a
white powder on the bat's face,

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which is how White Nose
Syndrome got it's name.

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It also grows on wings and other places

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where it can eat holes
right through a bat's skin.

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In addition to damaging skin,

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these infections cause bats
to warm up and become active,

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wasting precious energy they need

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to make it through the winter.

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Sometimes they fly out of their shelters

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looking for food and water,

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but there are no insects

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so the bats freeze or starve to death.

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Millions and millions of bats

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have been killed from White Nose Syndrome,

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which as Gretchen said,

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is caused by an invasive species

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that came from somewhere
else and is causing harm.

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In the case of Pd, we really
don't know how it got here

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but the fungus can travel
on bats as they move around

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and it is possible for people,

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who come in contact with
bats or their habitats

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to accidentally spread the fungus,

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if it gets on their shoes or clothing

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and they travel to other
places where bats hibernate.

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No matter how it got here,

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Pd spores took hold in that New York cave

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and the fungus quickly
spread between bats.

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So now it's found in at least 33 states

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and five provinces in Canada,

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affecting at least nine species
of bats in North America.

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Thankfully, other mammals, including you,

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do not get White Nose Syndrome.

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However, because Pd
spores can hitch a ride

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on your shoes, clothes,
or even your backpack,

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to protect bats, it's important to clean

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and disinfect your clothes
and anything else with you

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after you go to a place
that might have Pd in it.

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For more about how to reduce the risk

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of spreading White Nose Syndrome,

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visit whitenosesyndrome.org,

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which has more information
about the disease

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and what you can do to help.

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- Here, at Blanchard Springs,

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visitors walk through disinfectant

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to make that they don't carry

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the White Nose fungus

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on their shoes, into the cave.

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- You see, one big thing
is to not dump trash

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in caves, waterways, or sinkholes.

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People sometimes use caves
as places to put trash,

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thinking out of sight, out of mind.

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But now, we all know it
doesn't work that way.

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- I think learning about
caves and cave geology

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is really important,
just like we did today.

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If you don't know how
things are connected,

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then you may not conserve
these important areas.

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- Hey, thank you all for
all of those suggestions.

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And I gotta say, I really did enjoy

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my time underground today.

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Thank you to you and all of our experts.

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- I hope you'll take
some time to learn more

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about caves and their
resources at caveslive.org.

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Remember, caves are
unique and amazing places

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and are connected with our everyday lives.

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The more you know,

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the more you will value
these extraordinary places

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and realize how we are all connected,

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both above and below the surface.

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Bye.

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(soft music)