SALEM, Ore.-White-nose syndrome (WNS) has been detected in bats in Oregon for the first time.
White-nose syndrome is caused by the fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans, which attacks the skin of hibernating bats, damaging their wings as they wake up frequently to groom it off and making it difficult for them to fly.
Bats infected with White-Nose Syndrome often leave hibernation too early, which causes them to deplete their fat reserves and become dehydrated or starve to death, according to ODFW.
In March 2026, laboratory tests by the National Wildlife Health Center diagnosed white-nose syndrome disease in six Yuma myotis from Columbia County and one little brown myotis from Benton County.
Both Yuma and little brown myotis are small insectivorous bats that are found throughout Oregon. According to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW), the infected bats were reported after being found deceased in residential areas in late winter.
While white-nose syndrome does not cause illness in humans or domestic animals, it can be spread through contaminated clothing, gear, and equipment after recreating in or near caves or visiting sites like summer roosts or mines.
White-nose syndrome was first detected in North America in New York in 2007 and has been spreading since, with the disease being detected in 30 states, including Washington.
The first case of White-Nose Syndrome in the Western United States was in King County, Washington in 2016. There have been 280 confirmed cases of the disease and fungus in Washington State since, including in Benton County in 2024, according to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW).
ODFW has partnered with federal agencies, including the National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service since 2011 to survey for the fungus and white-nose syndrome across the state.
Sick or dead bats should never be touched or picked up and can be reported to ODFW’s Health Lab using the Bat Health Survey or calling 866.968.2600.
