Attention All Northeastern Spelunkers

That's spelunkers, not splunkers. Spelunkers need to watch out for disease infested bats. Splunkers just need to worry about dying from a heart attack due to too much fun. As for those disease infested bats:

A mysterious ailment, discovered in New York last year and spreading ever since, has killed thousands of bats in several Northeast states.

Hoping to keep the phenomenon, dubbed white nose syndrome, from spreading to Maryland, wildlife officials here are taking no chances.

They're asking everyone who explores caves to protect themselves - and any bats they encounter - by following new federal guidelines that recommend thoroughly washing any equipment they use in caves.