White-Nose Syndrome Spreads West, Nearing Oregon
White-Nose Syndrome, a fungal disease that has caused millions of bat deaths on the East Coast, is spreading west and is nearing Oregon, posing a threat to bat populations in the Pacific Northwest.
Seattle Tacoma, WA, October 16, 2026 —
White-Nose Syndrome, a fungal disease linked to millions of bat deaths on the East Coast, is spreading west and nearing Oregon, according to the available trend summary. Its advance raises concern for bat populations in the Pacific Northwest, though the summary does not identify specific locations where the disease has been detected.
The information provided does not give a timeline for the westward spread, describe how close the disease is to Oregon, or say whether it has been confirmed within the state. It also does not identify the source of the information or cite wildlife agencies, researchers or other experts. Those details are not available in the summary.
The scale of the reported losses on the East Coast indicates the disease has had a substantial effect on bats there. The summary does not specify which bat species have been affected, how the death toll was calculated or when those losses occurred. It likewise offers no figures for bat populations in Oregon or elsewhere in the Pacific Northwest.
For now, the stated concern is that a disease associated with millions of bat deaths in the East is moving west and could threaten bats in the Pacific Northwest. The available information does not describe any response or monitoring measures, nor does it provide a forecast for the disease’s spread. Further details about its location and status in Oregon were not provided.
Story summarized from the original created by Cascade PBS Staff on www.cascadepbs.org, see more information here.
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