White-Nose Syndrome Confirmed in Maine Bats

June 1, 2025

Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife announced May 24th in a news letter the confirmation of White-nose Syndrome in the state of Maine.

Maine until this year appeared to be outside the circle of WNS but this spring in a survey conducted by MDIF & W biologist at two sites, signs of WNS were found. Both sites where located in Oxford County Maine. The WNS fungus was found on the bats wings and muzzles. The bat carcasses where sent to the U.S. Geological Survey-National Wildlife Health Center in Madison, Wisconsin were WNS was confirmed.

Jeremy Coleman who is the National White-Nose Syndrome Coordinator for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said “We are saddened by the discovery of white-nose syndrome in Maine, the final New England state to confirm the presence of this devastating disease.” Mr. Colman went on to say “We will continue to work closely with the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and our other partners to support research and management of the disease in Maine and across North America.”

Maine has a bat population of big brown bats, little brown bats, northern long-eared bats, tri-colored bats and eastern small-footed bats. All of these bats are known to hibernate in Maine’s mines and caves.

http://www.fws.gov/whitenosesyndrome/pdf/WNSconfirmedMaine_052411.pdf

http://www.fws.gov/whitenosesyndrome/index.html

Categories: Bats, White Nose Syndrome (WNS)