White-nose syndrome has devastated North American bat populations, killing millions. Protecting bat roosts and supporting research into treatments are critical welfare and conservation priorities.
White-nose syndrome causes a particularly distressing form of death — bats repeatedly roused from hibernation by the irritating fungus exhaust their fat reserves during winter when no insects are available, eventually dying of starvation and exposure. The welfare harm at the individual level is prolonged suffering over days to weeks. At the population level, millions of deaths represent an enormous welfare catastrophe. Roost disturbance by humans during hibernation — even well-intentioned cave visits — can cause the same pattern of fatal arousal. Protecting hibernation roosts from disturbance is one of the most important and immediately achievable welfare interventions for bat populations. Summer maternity roosts also require protection from development and renovation that destroys roost sites.