White-nose syndrome has killed millions of bats across North America — a welfare catastrophe for a vital species.
White-nose syndrome represents one of the most dramatic wildlife disease-driven welfare crises in recent history. Infected bats rouse from hibernation during winter, burning fat reserves and starving before spring. The suffering involves repeated arousal, disorientation, and prolonged starvation. Beyond welfare, bat population collapse removes critical ecosystem services — pest control, pollination, and seed dispersal. Emerging probiotic treatments using naturally occurring fungal competitors offer hope, but deployment at scale remains challenging.