Wis. DNR plans public hearings on cave bat rules

State wildlife officials are looking for public comments on plans to protect Wisconsin cave bats from a deadly fungal disease.

The Department of Natural Resources plans a public video conference on Nov. 29. People can participate at sites in Eau Claire, Green Bay, Madison and Wausau.

The DNR is preparing for the arrival of white-nose syndrome in Wisconsin. The disease has killed more than 1 million bats in other states

The DNR will take comments on emergency rules the agency's board passed in recent weeks and their proposed permanent versions.

The rules list four cave bat species as threatened and classify the white-nose fungus as an invasive species. They also grant the DNR the authority to inspect caves and mines and close them to bats or people beginning in six weeks.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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