Since its introduction to the United States in 2006, nearly six million bats have died from white nose syndrome. White nose syndrome is caused by the fungus, P. destructans, which infects bats while they hibernate. Hibernation causes the body temperature of the bats to fall to a temperature that makes them hospitable for the fungus to thrive.

 

White nose syndrome wakes infected bats up from their winter hibernation, causing them to use up their fat reserves. This depletes bats' energy stores and causes them to leave their caves to search for food. But winter is a time of year when there are no bugs and the bats that wake up eventually die of starvation. As if that wasn't bad enough, the P. destructans fungus also burns bat skin which can lead to infection.

 

Scientists are currently studying P. destructans. They hope to better understand the fungus to find a way to help the bats. Too little is known about the fungus and what it will mean for bats in North America and the ecosystems in which these bats live.

 

So, why should you care about the bats?