Arizona bats test positive for possibly deadly fungus; wildlife agency seeks public's help
A bat that was part of the cave myotis species in Fort Huachuca, just west of Sierra Vista, tested positive for a fungus known as Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd) that can cause deadly white-nose syndrome (WNS), according to the Arizona Department of Game and Fish.
The positive sample was collected during a June 2024 surveillance when Game and Fish identified a bat with abnormal wing features linked to the disease. The agency later discovered four additional bats, including two from other species, that tested positive for trace amounts of the fungus.
Debbie Brewer, a Game and Fish biologist for the Fort Huachuca area, said monitoring for the Pd has existed in the area since 2014, with positive infections found in 2017, followed by low-level spread in 2021 and 2023.
"Though not unexpected, our 2024 high-level positive detection in cave myotis is highly concerning and should put other land managers in the Southwest on alert that habitat protections for this and other species of bat are warranted," wrote Brewer in a news release.
With the help of citizen scientists: An endangered bat species has been found in Arizona
Pd, which causes white-nose syndrome, is named after the white fungal growth seen on infected bats. Since 2006, the disease has led to the deaths of millions of bats across 40 U.S. states and nine Canadian provinces, according to Game and Fish.
White-nose syndrome does not pose a risk to humans or pets, but human activity is a major concern for bringing fungal spores into cold, humid caves where bats hibernate, and where optimal growing conditions exist for the fungus.
'This disease did not exist when I first began working with bats. To see new threats to our bat populations like this is disturbing," said Angie McIntire, a specialist on Arizona bats for Game and Fish.
A bat infected with WNS may display unusual behavior, which Game and Fish said usually appears like the bat is unable to fly or is perched low on a wall or is on the ground.
The wildlife agency asks the public to help monitor for the disease by reporting any possible cases by email to bats@azgfd.gov, sending a detailed report of the encounter, photos, location and contact information, but also reminds the public to never handle bats.
Game and Fish said since 2019, the fungus has been found in Mohave, Coconino, Yavapai and Cochise counties, and at Grand Canyon National Park. Between 2021 and 2024, a total of eight bats, including cave myotis, southwestern myotis and big brown bats, tested positive for the fungus.
Infections within the cave myotis bat species also have been found nearby in New Mexico and Texas, highlighting to researchers a possible vulnerability among the species for WNS.
Bat season in Arizona: What attracts them and are they dangerous?
Reach reporter Rey Covarrubias Jr. at rcovarrubias@gannett.com. Follow him on X, Threads and Bluesky @ReyCJrAZ.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Bats in southern Arizona test positive for fungus deadly to species
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
4 hours ago
- Newsweek
Warning Issued For Millions To Monitor Palpitations, Shortness of Breath
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. National Weather Service (NWS) air quality alerts covered numerous U.S. states early on Friday due to both particle and ozone pollution, authorities cautioning residents over potential health effects. Why It Matters The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) warns that exposure to ozone may irritate the respiratory tract, cause airway inflammation, and aggravate existing conditions such as asthma, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis. Regarding particle pollution, the EPA states that studies have linked exposure to a range of health effects, including respiratory symptoms such as coughing and wheezing, the development of asthma, and increased susceptibility to respiratory infections. What To Know In Michigan, air quality alerts spanned the majority of the state's upper peninsula as well as a central portion of the southern peninsula due to Canadian wildfire smoke. "It is recommended that, when possible, you avoid strenuous outdoor activities, especially those with heart disease and respiratory diseases like asthma," the alert said. "Monitor for symptoms such as wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, dizziness, or burning in nose, throat, and eyes." The entirety of Minnesota was also under air quality alert early on Friday, prompted by the smoke from Canada's Saskatchewan and Manitoba regions. Sensitive groups were advised to avoid prolonged or heavy exertion, but local authorities also warned that some members of the general public could also experience health effects. Likewise, most of Wisconsin had been issued an air quality alert over Canadian wildfire smoke. "People with heart disease: Symptoms such as palpitations, shortness of breath, or unusual fatigue may indicate a serious problem. If you have any of these, contact your health care provider," read an alert for the state. In addition to the above, several New York, New Jersey and Connecticut counties were under air quality alert due to ozone pollution, which local authorities said could reach potentially unhealthy levels. This included New York, Bronx, Kings, Queens, Richmond, Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, and Rockland Counties in New York, as well as Fairfield, New Haven, Middlesex, and New London Counties in Connecticut. An additional air quality alert was set to remain in force until 9 a.m. local time on Friday for Colorado's Mesa County due to nearby wildfires. The Turner Gulch fire burning in the county had reached 17,747 acres and was 45 percent contained as of early Friday, according to a map from nonprofit Watch Duty. What People Are Saying NWS Green Bay, Wisconsin said on X, Thursday: "An Air Quality Advisory has been issued until 11 p.m. Friday, but primarily for Friday due to smoke from fires in Canada becoming surface based and causing some air quality concerns for sensitive groups." AccuWeather meteorologist Brandon Buckingham told Newsweek previously: "Ozone is a secondary pollutant, meaning it's not emitted directly from sources, but is formed through chemical reactions. These reactions require sunlight and higher temperatures, making warmer months more prone to ozone formation. When air is stagnant, pollutants don't get dispersed, allowing ozone to build up to unhealthy levels." What Happens Next The NWS issues regular forecast updates on its website.
Hamilton Spectator
16 hours ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Federal health minister non-committal on signing more pharmacare deals
OTTAWA - Federal Health Minister Marjorie Michel is not committing to sign pharmacare funding deals with all provinces and territories. The first phase of the pharmacare law that was passed by the Trudeau Liberals last fall calls on Ottawa to cover the cost of contraceptives and diabetes medications for patients. The previous government signed deals with P.E.I., B.C., Manitoba and Yukon to do just that before the spring election. The Liberals promised during the election campaign to protect the pharmacare program, along with other social programs. At a press conference in New Brunswick this week, when asked why talks weren't progressing with the remaining provinces, Michel said that this is a new government in a new context. A spokesperson for the minister says the government will protect the four deals that have been signed but did not say whether the Liberals plan to sign new agreements. 'Our new government will be there to discuss with our provincial and territorial partners how we can support them for better health outcomes for Canadians,' said Emilie Gauduchon-Campbell in an email. The Canadian Health Coalition pointed out that $1.5 billion was set aside to fund the agreements in the last federal budget, and the Liberals pledged to keep the program during the election. 'I don't think anybody voted for cuts to health care, including pharmacare,' said Steven Staples, the group's national director of policy and advocacy. The NDP, which pushed for the creation of the pharmacare program through its supply-and-confidence deal with the Trudeau Liberals last year, accused the government of breaking a campaign promise. 'We call on (Prime Minister) Mark Carney immediately to get back on track and honour the law we passed last Parliament,' said NDP interim leader Don Davies in a statement. 'We call on him to finalize Pharmacare agreements with all remaining provinces and territories and allocate the funding Liberals promised so that no Canadian has to choose between life-saving medicine and putting food on the table.' Michel's comments were first reported by the Telegraph-Journal, which cited an interview with New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt, who said her government had not heard from Ottawa since the election. Holt's provincial Liberals ran in an election campaign last year on a promise to cover the cost of contraceptives. New Brunswick has not signed a pharmacare deal. Former health minister Mark Holland suggested last winter that he wouldn't have enough time to negotiate the deals before the election, which most polls at the time predicted the Conservatives would win handily. Holland and the NDP warned that the Conservatives would cut the program. ''There's no room for politics in this. It's just logic. It's the thing we must do for this country,' Holland said as he announced the first deal with Manitoba, worth $219 million, in late February. Carney's government, though, has warned that spending cuts are coming as it refocuses its energy on the economy and national defence. Premiers at the Council of the Federation meetings this week in Ontario said health care is a priority, but it got only a brief mention in their final statement on Wednesday. The premiers said they're exploring avenues to improve access to medications but did not mention pharmacare specifically. At a closing press conference, P.E.I. Premier Rob Lantz, the incoming chair of the Council of the Federation, spoke about the group's history as 'a venue to lobby for more health transfers.' Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew said the country's universal health care system is a point of national pride. 'If we want to say that we're standing up to (U.S. President) Donald Trump and we're never going to be the 51st state, let's make sure that our universal health system is strong and supports Canadians in every region of the country. And I think we have a good partner in the prime minister right now to advance that project,' Kinew said. The premiers told reporters the group did not talk about health care with Carney on Tuesday, when he joined their meetings to talk about the trade war with the U.S. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 24, 2025.
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Yahoo
Federal health minister non-committal on signing more pharmacare deals
OTTAWA — Federal Health Minister Marjorie Michel is not committing to sign pharmacare funding deals with all provinces and territories. The first phase of the pharmacare law that was passed by the Trudeau Liberals last fall calls on Ottawa to cover the cost of contraceptives and diabetes medications for patients. The previous government signed deals with P.E.I., B.C., Manitoba and Yukon to do just that before the spring election. The Liberals promised during the election campaign to protect the pharmacare program, along with other social programs. At a press conference in New Brunswick this week, when asked why talks weren't progressing with the remaining provinces, Michel said that this is a new government in a new context. A spokesperson for the minister says the government will protect the four deals that have been signed but did not say whether the Liberals plan to sign new agreements. "Our new government will be there to discuss with our provincial and territorial partners how we can support them for better health outcomes for Canadians," said Emilie Gauduchon-Campbell in an email. The Canadian Health Coalition pointed out that $1.5 billion was set aside to fund the agreements in the last federal budget, and the Liberals pledged to keep the program during the election. "I don't think anybody voted for cuts to health care, including pharmacare," said Steven Staples, the group's national director of policy and advocacy. The NDP, which pushed for the creation of the pharmacare program through its supply-and-confidence deal with the Trudeau Liberals last year, accused the government of breaking a campaign promise. "We call on (Prime Minister) Mark Carney immediately to get back on track and honour the law we passed last Parliament," said NDP interim leader Don Davies in a statement. "We call on him to finalize Pharmacare agreements with all remaining provinces and territories and allocate the funding Liberals promised so that no Canadian has to choose between life-saving medicine and putting food on the table." Michel's comments were first reported by the Telegraph-Journal, which cited an interview with New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt, who said her government had not heard from Ottawa since the election. Holt's provincial Liberals ran in an election campaign last year on a promise to cover the cost of contraceptives. New Brunswick has not signed a pharmacare deal. Former health minister Mark Holland suggested last winter that he wouldn't have enough time to negotiate the deals before the election, which most polls at the time predicted the Conservatives would win handily. Holland and the NDP warned that the Conservatives would cut the program. ""There's no room for politics in this. It's just logic. It's the thing we must do for this country," Holland said as he announced the first deal with Manitoba, worth $219 million, in late February. Carney's government, though, has warned that spending cuts are coming as it refocuses its energy on the economy and national defence. Premiers at the Council of the Federation meetings this week in Ontario said health care is a priority, but it got only a brief mention in their final statement on Wednesday. The premiers said they're exploring avenues to improve access to medications but did not mention pharmacare specifically. At a closing press conference, P.E.I. Premier Rob Lantz, the incoming chair of the Council of the Federation, spoke about the group's history as "a venue to lobby for more health transfers." Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew said the country's universal health care system is a point of national pride. "If we want to say that we're standing up to (U.S. President) Donald Trump and we're never going to be the 51st state, let's make sure that our universal health system is strong and supports Canadians in every region of the country. And I think we have a good partner in the prime minister right now to advance that project," Kinew said. The premiers told reporters the group did not talk about health care with Carney on Tuesday, when he joined their meetings to talk about the trade war with the U.S. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 24, 2025. Sarah Ritchie, The Canadian Press Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
