White-nose syndrome has killed millions of bats across North America since 2006. Understanding this catastrophic disease helps welfare advocates support affected bat populations and recovery efforts.
White-nose syndrome causes a drawn-out form of suffering for affected bats. The disease disrupts the thermoregulatory processes of hibernation, causing bats to arouse repeatedly from their winter torpor. Each arousal burns fat reserves that must last until spring insect emergence. As fat reserves are depleted, bats emerge in winter in deteriorating condition, unable to find food, and ultimately die from starvation or hypothermia. This is not a quick death but a prolonged deterioration over days to weeks. The scale of mortality represents one of the worst wildlife health crises in North American history. Recovery requires both disease management interventions and habitat protection of hibernation sites.