Park officials at Rocky Mountain National Park have confirmed the first case of white-nose syndrome in a bat in Grand County, providing evidence that the fatal fungus-caused disease may be pushing into the mountain interior of the state.

White-nose syndrome is a disease caused by a fungus first detected in North American bats on the East Coast in 2006. Since then, the disease has decimated some species and spread westward. The first Colorado case was found in 2023 at Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site in southeast Colorado. 

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Rocky Mountain National Park staff detected the fungus in April through laboratory testing on bats in the Holzwarth Historic Site on the west side of the park.

The presence of the disease, which causes lesions on the wings of bats and weakens individuals attempting to hibernate through winter, has now been found in three specimens.

Park officials said two bats exhibiting the disease were found on the west side and one on the east side of the park. All were from the long-legged bat species.

In a release on Thursday, officials called the discovery “an unfortunate but not a surprise finding.”

Colorado is home to 19 bat species, nine of which have been documented in Rock Mountain National Park. Five park species have been found living above 5,000 feet.

White-nose syndrome does not affect humans, but bats can also carry diseases like rabies and should not be touched. The park is asking the public to report dead or injured bats to personnel.

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Humans can spread the disease to bats through contact with the fungus. Visitors should also decontaminate gear and outerwear after visiting a cave or other bat habitat, according to the release.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife, along with research biologists with the the U.S. Geological Survey, have been surveying bats and monitoring for the presence of white-nose syndrome for over a decade. The National Park Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are also partners. 

While some researchers hope that the disease may have a less catastrophic effect on Colorado bats due to a drier climate and different roosting behaviors compared to Eastern colonies, white-nose syndrome could still devastate the area bat population. Other states have recorded a near-total fatality rate among some colonies. 

The National Park Service estimates 13 species in the state could be impacted by the disease. 

Bats are a major predator for insects which, if unchecked, could harm the agricultural industry. They are also prey for other native species like owls. 

Outside of Rocky Mountain National Park, active or dead bats can be reported to Colorado Parks and Wildlife via email at Wildlife.Batline@state.co.us or through a dedicated “Batline” at 303-291-7771. Any bat sightings from December through June can be reported. 

From July through November, the CPW recommends reporting bat encounters to the local county health department. 

Fish and Wildlife has a guide on decontamination, while the CPW has more information on how to safely exclude bats from a home or other structure.