A disease called White-Nose Syndrome (WNS) is spreading through the eastern United States, killing bat populations. Although this disease does not bother humans, it has been associated with the deaths of more than 1 million bats since it was first identified in 2006.

The cause of WNS remains elusive, but the syndrome has been linked to a fungus that forms a white covering on bats' muzzles as well as other body parts such as the wings, causing intense irritation.

The fungus seems to prefer cold temperatures and so strikes bats when they are most vulnerable—during hibernation. The irritation causes affected bats to wake and use up energy reserves long before spring comes. They then starve or freeze, and die.

The potential exists for the loss of hundreds of thousands more bats—and perhaps entire species—bad news for us as bats devour millions of insect pests and play a role in pollination.

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White-Nose Syndrome is considered to be present in the Mammoth Cave System.

While there are no known harmful effects to humans, the fungus Geomyces destructans, a fungus new to North America, is responsible for the deaths of more than a million hibernating bats across the eastern United States since its discovery in 2006.

Significant evidence indicates that humans can and have transmitted the fungus from one cave to another, hastening its spread. While no tours at Mammoth Cave National Park enter areas used by colonies of bats for hibernation, bats do occasionally fly through toured sections of the cave year-round.

On the remote chance that you might come into contact with Geomyces destructans spores during your tour of Mammoth Cave, all participants in Mammoth Cave National Park cave tours will be required to walk on bio security mats after exiting the Cave. This will require each individual in your party to walk the length of a nylon mat saturated in a Lysol™ solution comparable to that used in home cleaning. Specific information on the active ingredients of Lysol IC™ and the concentration being used are available at the White-Nose Station at the Visitor Center. We also ask for your cooperation by washing your hands and changing clothes and footwear before visiting any other caves or mines.

If you or other members of your party do not wish to comply or cannot comply with this requirement, we will be happy to fully refund your money; any tickets purchased online or through the reservation call center will, however, be subject to normal cancellation fees.

Your cooperation with this important measure will help prevent the possible spread of the fungus responsible for White-Nose Syndrome to other caves or mines. We apologize for any inconvenience, and thank your for helping to minimize the risk of spreading this disease so devastating to bats.