Since 2006, bats have been dying in unprecedented numbers in the United States and Canada from white-nose syndrome (WNS), a fatal condition associated with exposure to the fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans. Although humans aren't susceptible, they can potentially spread the fungus between caves, mines, and other bat roost sites. It is all of our responsibility to do what we can to prevent the spread of this devastating disease. Help Us Protect Our Bats! Lava Beds National Monument has instituted a screening procedure to help prevent the spread of white-nose syndrome to its caves. If you are planning on entering any cave within Lava Beds National Monument, please stop by the visitor center and/or screening location, complete this simple screening and obtain a cave permit. Displaying this pass in your car window will show that you have been through the screening process and that you are helping protect the bats that live here. If you have gear that has been used in caves or mines outside of Lava Beds National Monument, please leave these items at home. If you cannot leave this gear at home, please have a ranger decontaminate it properly. 
For more information on white-nose syndrome: http://www.fws.gov/WhiteNoseSyndrome/ http://www.batcon.org/our-work/regions/usa-canada/white-nose-syndrome http://wbwg.org/conservation-threats/white-nose-syndrome/
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Last updated: February 2, 2024