How white-nose syndrome has devastated North American bat populations and the welfare implications of mass mortality events.
White-nose syndrome represents one of the most catastrophic wildlife disease events in recorded North American history. The welfare dimension is significant — affected bats wake repeatedly during hibernation in a confused, depleted state before dying from starvation. The scale of mortality — millions of individuals across dozens of species — represents enormous cumulative suffering. Surviving populations in affected areas show natural recovery in some species, but the ecological consequences of bat decline — increased insect pest pressure, reduced pollination — create cascading welfare consequences for other species including those used in agriculture.