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MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — A biologist studying white nose syndrome in Vermont says he thinks the worst of the epidemic is over and at least one affected bat species could be taking the first steps toward recovery.
Biologist Scott Darling with the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife says that despite the devastation among certain bat species, thousands of little brown bats continue to pass the winter in the Aeolus (AY'-oh-luhs) bat cave in Dorset.
The disease spread out of a New York cave and into Vermont in the mid-2000s.
Last fall, biologists attached electronic tagged about 450 little brown bats before they began hibernating. Next month, the biologists will be monitoring the cave to see how many emerge.
If survival numbers are high, it could indicate the bats are resistant to white nose.
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