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MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A fatal bat disease is spreading across Wisconsin.
The state Department of Natural Resources says over-winter surveillance shows white-nose syndrome or the fungus that causes it is now present in eight counties. The agency announced Thursday that bats in Grant, Crawford, Richland, Door and Dane counties have tested positive for the disease. The fungus has been confirmed in Iowa, Dodge and Lafayette counties.
DNR officials say the bat population at the original point of infection in Grant County has dropped 70 percent. The agency doesn't disclose the location of threatened species.
The agency has imposed decontamination requirements for researchers and spelunkers to prevent the disease from spreading as well as an outreach campaign to educate commercial cave and mine visitors about the disease.
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