Fungus Linked to White Nose Syndrome Detected in Rocky Mountain National Park

Laboratory tests conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) have confirmed that the fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd) has been positively detected in bats found in the Holzwarth Historic Site area located on the west side of Rocky Mountain National Park. This is the first confirmed detection of Pd in Grand County, Colorado.

Pd is an invasive fungus that causes white-nose syndrome (WNS), a fatal disease that impacts bats. This fungus can spread rapidly, primarily through bat-to-bat contact.

WNS does not cause illness in humans, but humans are able to spread the fungus to new places. To protect yourselves and conserve bat populations, we recommend visitors:

Report dead/injured bats to park personnel. To protect yourself and bats, never touch or pick up a bat. Although WNS does not cause illness in humans, a small percentage of bats can be infected with other dangerous diseases, such as rabies.

Decontaminate. Ensure you properly decontaminate your gear and outerwear after visiting a cave or other bat habitat.

Earlier this year, swabs taken from bats in the Holzwarth area of the park found a probability of Pd. Following this probable result, National Park Service wildlife biologists at the park collected bat guano from locations in the Holzwarth Historic Site area for follow up testing to verify the results. The results of these tests have positively detected Pd.

Any new detection of Pd is worrisome because bats are vital for healthy ecosystems. Rocky Mountain National Park is home to nine known species of bats, five of which have been found living in areas above 11,000 feet. WNS has been blamed for millions of bat deaths nationwide since its initial detection in New York State in 2006. In July 2022, the first confirmed case of WNS was reported in Southeastern Colorado. Pd and WNS have also been confirmed in Larimer County, Colorado.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife and the USGS, along with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Park Service, have been conducting WNS surveys for over a decade, monitoring bats for presence of Pd. Colorado is home to 19 native bat species, at least 13 of which may be susceptible to this disease. Colorado's native bats are all insect eaters and use various habitat types across the state. They are most active during the summer months and spend the winter either hibernating in underground roosts throughout the state or migrating south. The National Park Service and other state and federal agencies will continue to monitor bats throughout Colorado.

To learn more about White Nose Syndrome and how it impacts bats, visit https://www.whitenosesyndrome.org/



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Check out our online trail guides:

• Glacier National Park: HikinginGlacier.com

• Grand Teton National Park: TetonHikingTrails.com

• Rocky Mountain National Park: RockyMountainHikingTrails.com

Seeking Information on Reckless Driving within Rocky Mountain National Park

During activities within Rocky Mountain National Park on February 17 and March 1, park rangers received reports of a vehicle driving recklessly with disregard for the safety of others.

Rangers are investigating these reports and are seeking information from the public, including any photographs or video material. At this time, no further information will be provided regarding this ongoing investigation.

If you have information that could help investigators, please contact us. You don't have to tell us who you are, but please tell us what you know. Please contact the National Park Service Investigative Services Branch Tip Line 888-653-0009, or submit a tip online at go.nps.gov/SubmitATip or Email nps_isb@nps.gov



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Check out our online trail guides:

• Glacier National Park: HikinginGlacier.com

• Grand Teton National Park: TetonHikingTrails.com

• Rocky Mountain National Park: RockyMountainHikingTrails.com

State restoring 12 summit trails on Colorado 14ers

Yesterday, Governor Polis and Colorado Parks and Wildlife announced that the Non-Motorized Trail Grant Program recently awarded $2,438,000 for 26 projects that will connect Coloradans and visitors to the outdoors with new and improved opportunities to get outside, including restoring trails on 12 of Colorado’s 14ers. The Parks and Wildlife Commission unanimously approved the grants during the March 2025 PWC meeting.

“Our iconic 14ers will now be even more accessible and safe to summit! In Colorado, we are focused on expanding outdoor recreational opportunities for all Coloradans, while protecting our natural resources and public lands. This funding will help Coloradans have fun, get outside, and be active while protecting our awe-inspiring natural landscapes, keeping Colorado beautiful for generations to come,” said Governor Polis.

The Non-Motorized Trails Grant Program is a multi-agency partnership that includes CPW, Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO), Colorado Lottery, and the Federal Recreational Trails Program (RTP).

Last year, a new Trail Stewardship pilot program with additional support from Great Outdoors Colorado was launched. This program provides funding specifically to support trail stewardship crews hired by land managers and nonprofits who focus on maintenance work throughout Colorado. This year, the State Trails Program received $1,500,000 in funding from Great Outdoors Colorado.

“As we continue to see increased use and natural disasters impact our outdoor spaces, we are fortunate to partner with Great Outdoors Colorado to launch a new opportunity to fund stewardship crews who are caring for trails across the state,” said CPW Assistant Director of Outdoor Recreation and Lands, Fletcher Jacobs. “These increased 'boots on the ground' trail crews will help support the Governor’s Wildly Important Goals to balance conservation and recreation by increasing the number of trail crew hours funded by the State Trails Program.”

2025 Grant Stats

Construction
3 grants totaling $575,000

Maintenance
10 grants totaling $1,089,281

Planning/Support
8 grants totaling $280,023

Trail Stewardship
5 grant totaling $493,710

Some of the highlights from this year’s awarded projects include:

Statewide 14ers Trail Maintenance 2025 (Maintenance grant) The Colorado Fourteeners Initiative was awarded a $250,000 grant to reconstruct and restore 12 summit trails on 14,000-foot peaks. The will include basic maintenance, intensive trail reconstruction and thousands of feet of closure/restoration. Reconstruction will include boardwalk repair, backwall supporting tundra beds, installation of timer check and rock steps.

The 12 summit trails included in the maintenance plan include:

* Mt. Bierstadt
* Mt. Blue Sky
* Quandary Peak
* Mt. Democrat
* Mt. Princeton
* Mt. Massive
* Capitol Peak
* Mt. Columbia
* San Luis Peak
* Redcloud Peak
* Wetterhorn Peak
* Mt. Sneffels



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From Montana to New Mexico, the American Rockies stretch for more than a thousand miles. Within this spectacular mountain range are thousands of miles of hiking trails. With such an overwhelming number of options, how will you find and choose the most scenic and rewarding hikes?

Ultimate Hiking Guide to the Rocky Mountains takes all the guesswork out by focusing on some of the most amazing hikes across this range, and provides you with a handpicked list of options that will allow you to make the most of your trips in the Rockies:

It's tick bite prevention week in RMNP

Rocky Mountain National Park posted this on their social media today:

It's tick bite prevention week, and this is a timely conversation since the arrival of spring and warmer temperatures means that ticks are now out in lower elevation areas of Rocky Mountain National Park.

Ticks are small arachnids that feed on the blood of their hosts. Rocky Mountain Wood Ticks (Dermacentor andersoni), along with other species of ticks around the country, often inhabit areas with tall vegetation and leaf litter. They easily jump from vegetation like tall grasses to a new host, like humans when hiking.

It is important to be tick aware, as they can transmit diseases to humans like Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and Colorado Tick Fever. The best way to prevent tick borne illnesses is to not allow ticks to become embedded on you. Protect Yourself from Ticks by taking the following actions:

🥾 When hiking, walk in the middle of trails away from tall grasses. Check yourself and your kids for ticks every few hours. Check your head, ankles, wrists and waistbands.

🧥 Cover your skin by wearing long sleeves and long pants. Pull socks over the cuffs of your pants to prevent ticks from finding the skin around your ankles.

🧴 Consider using insect repellent that contains DEET or permethrin, which can be effective in repelling ticks.

For more information, visit the CDC's webpage about ticks at https://www.cdc.gov/ticks/about/index.html and RMNP's tick safety webpage at https://www.nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/tick-safety.htm

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Check out our online trail guides:

• Glacier National Park: HikinginGlacier.com

• Grand Teton National Park: TetonHikingTrails.com

• Rocky Mountain National Park: RockyMountainHikingTrails.com

Spring migration season is here!

Rocky Mountain National Park posted this on their social media the other day:

Spring migration season is beginning for many species of wildlife, including Mule deer and elk. Help protect wildlife on the move. How can you help?

🦌 When driving, slow down and follow the posted speed limits. Scan the sides of roads for wildlife and be prepared to stop for wildlife.

🐇 Wildlife can walk, fly, or hop across roads at any time. Be especially careful in the early morning and early evening hours of the day.

🚗 It is our responsibility to keep an eye out for wildlife crossing roads. When you see wildlife trying to cross a road in the park, slow down and stop. Give them space and time to safely cross.

Thank you for doing your part to help protect wildlife!

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Check out our online trail guides:

• Glacier National Park: HikinginGlacier.com

• Grand Teton National Park: TetonHikingTrails.com

• Rocky Mountain National Park: RockyMountainHikingTrails.com