State and federal wildlife authorities are bracing for possible arrival of the deadly white-nose syndrome in bats.

They’re asking residents of eastern Colorado in particular to help out by reporting any hibernating bats so that government biologists could check them for the fungus.

The white-nose syndrome hasn’t been detected in Colorado, but it reached a cave in northwest Oklahoma last summer.

It is spread by a fungus, of unknown origin, that attacks bats through the skin on their mouth and nose and prevents them from sleeping. Aroused out of hibernation — November-April — afflicted bats dart out of caves seeking food, burn up body-fat reserves, then freeze or starve.

Bat deaths mean trouble for people: bat eats tons of insects to survive. Dying bats are expected to mean many more insects buzzing around people.

Bat experts say authorities won’t know until spring whether the fungus has infected any of the estimated 2 million bats in Colorado (representing 21 species, 15 of which hibernate).

The fungus spread from New York, where biologists identified it in 2006. Bat deaths have increased rapidly since 2009.

U.S. Forest Service officials have ordered the closure to visitors of hundreds of caves and 30,000 abandoned mines in Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas, Nebraska and South Dakota.

Scientists aren’t sure but suspect the increasingly popular recreational exploration of caves may have led to people transporting the fungus on their clothing and gear.

“Once the fungus arrives in an area, it can spread quickly as bats move,” said Tina Jackson, species conservation coordinator for the Colorado Division of Wildlife. “But the fungus makes the biggest leaps in distance when it moves because of human activity.”

Colorado residents who see bats flying or dead bats this winter are asked to report that information to a special phone line (303-291-7771) or via e-mail at Wildlife.Batline@state.co.us

Those who spot hibernating bats also are advised to not disturb them.

Bruce Finley: 303.954.1700 or bfinley@denverpost.com