National Bat Week
Apparently it's National Bat Week, which is a huge coincidence considering Halloween is in a few days.
With that being said, the New York Department of Environmental Conservation is reminding New Yorkers to avoid caves and mines to protect the bat population.
The DEC described in a press release that "Human disturbances are especially harmful to the State's bat population since the arrival of the disease known as white-nose syndrome, which has killed more than 90 percent of bats at hibernation sites in New York."
DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos continued to explain just how harmful the smallest amount of human interaction can be "Even a single, seemingly quiet visit can kill bats that would otherwise survive the winter. If you see hibernating bats, assume you are doing harm and leave immediately."
There are currently two specific species of bats that are protected under federal and state laws. The Indiana bat and the Northern Long Eared bat who are the most severely impacted by white-nose syndrome.
The bat hibernation season runs from October 1st to April 30th.