CENTRAL TEXAS — A potentially deadly fungus that causes white-nose syndrome (WNS) in bats has spread to Central Texas, officials said.
No bat deaths due to WNS have been confirmed in Texas, but the syndrome has killed millions of bats in eastern United States, according to a press release from the Texas Parks and Wildlife. The fungus was detected for the first time in Texas in early 2017 in the Panhandle, TPW said.
Now, the fungus has been detected in several counties this year, including Blanco County, Foard County, Kendall County and Wheeler County.
It's been detected on cave bats, tri-colored bats, Townsend’s big-eared bats and on a single a Mexican free-tailed bat, but no signs of WNS have been reported. TPW said it usually takes a few years after detecting the fungus for the syndrome to manifest.
WNS was first discovered in New York in 2007 and has been spreading rapidly ever since, TPW said.
The detection in Texas is a concern because bats consume large numbers of insects, playing an important role in the ecosystem.