Maryland officials say that so far, it hasn't been necessary to ask enthusiasts to stop exploring caves because white nose syndrome hasn't shown up here and access to most of the important winter resting places for bats, known as hibernacula, is already restricted.
"A lot of our most important hibernacula are gated, so the public can't get in anyway," Limpert said.
Scientists with Cornell University and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are analyzing bat remains and affected habitats in the hunt for a cause. But they have yet to figure out how the ailment is transmitted, whether the powdery fungus is a just a symptom or if the deaths are rooted in some type of virus, bacteria, fungus, pesticide or other environmental element.
"Right now, we have no answers," said Diana Weaver, a spokeswoman for the Fish and Wildlife Service in Hadley, Mass.
Among the unanswered questions is whether people can spread the condition.
Jennifer Neemann, a psychologist who is president of the Baltimore Grotto, a group of area cavers, said that they make a point of not disturbing bats. "The philosophy's always been leaving nothing but footprints and take nothing but pictures," she said.
Cavers are concerned because white nose syndrome is prompting cave closings in other states and, as it spreads, it could prompt more. Many of the best caves are on private lands in remote areas, where access is permitted only because of good relationships developed over many years with landowners, she said.
"We don't mind if there are temporary closures of caves, it's the permanent closures that worry us," Neemann said.
Members of organized caving groups will comply with those requests, Neemann said.
"Real cavers are the ones who are the most concerned about bats."
dennis.obrien@baltsun.com
Anyone who sees an injured bat is asked to call the DNR hot line at 877-463-6497. Additional in- formation on white nose syn- drome can be found at www.fws. gov/northeast/white_nose.html.
