White-nose syndrome has killed over 6 million bats in North America, creating one of the most significant wildlife welfare crises in recent history.
White-nose syndrome represents an ongoing wildlife welfare emergency affecting millions of bats annually through a drawn-out death from fungal infection that disrupts winter hibernation. Individual bats dying from WNS experience progressive physiological decline - repeated arousal from hibernation, fat reserve depletion, dehydration, and ultimately starvation or exhaustion. The welfare significance is amplified by the number of individuals affected and the protracted nature of the dying process. Both conservation and individual welfare interests are served by research into treatments and prevention of further geographic spread.