COLUMBIA, MO. -- The Missouri Department of Natural Resources has cancelled its fall cave tours through Devil's Ice Box in Rock Bridge State Park.

A DNR news release said the move is necessary to protect the bats in the cave.

Scheduled to begin Sunday, the tours have been popular with school children and adults.

State officials are worried about spreading a fungus fatal to bats called "white-nose syndrome.”

The spores of the fungus will attach themselves to human clothing and gear.

Devil's Ice Box is recognized as one of Missouri’s most biologically rich cave systems with multiple species of bats, including two on the endangered species list.