GRAPHITE, N.Y. -- DEC Mammal Specialist Al Hicks said, "He's not being aggressive; he's just defending himself."
But this man is not finding many defending themselves. He's finding them dead or dying.
Hicks said, "This is huge."
Al Hicks is the DEC's "Batman," if you will. Credited with first identifying white nose syndrome, Hicks is still trying to figure out its role in the deaths of thousands of bats.
Hicks said, "We're presuming that their fat reserves are depleted. But maybe that isn't the driving force."
More a mystery than anything, little is known about the fungus that tends to appear on the nose and wings. Not all bats that have it die, and not all the dead bats have it.
As spring sets in, researchers are trying to understand why thousands of bats are dying. It's time for bats to wake up after hibernating all winter. Instead, research teams are heading out to their resting places to find any clues that could help explain why they aren't waking up, but are dead. Mark Repasky joined one of the teams to see if they're any closer to finding the answer.
Hicks said, "The fungus is may be the cause or may be a symptom of the cause."
But what researchers do know is startling. The disease is spreading -- from four caves near Albany last year to more than 15 so far this year, with confirmed cases in several Northeast states. And it's killing bats by the thousands.
Hicks said, "Our mortality rates ranged anywhere from 81 to 97 percent."
Graphite in Warren County is one of several locations where researchers are trapping and weighing bats as they come out of hibernation. What they're doing is comparing the weights to see if there's any difference between those that come out of caves like this one, where white nose syndrome has been spotted, and ones where it hasn't.
Hicks said, "There are many many aspects of this white nose syndrome we're trying to investigate. Every piece we get adds another piece to the puzzle.
Bats may creep you out, but they are essential when it comes to controlling insects. As Hicks fills out his log book, one of the most obvious symptoms of this white nose syndrome becomes evident -- bats that are typically nocturnal are fleeing caves by the dozen hours before dusk, weeks before normal, hungry and looking for food.
"I think that he hopes he finds more and that it doesn't get cold on him. I think he's a little early." said Hicks.