Wild Bat Welfare and White-Nose Syndrome

White-nose syndrome has killed millions of North American bats since 2006, causing individual welfare harm and devastating population consequences for cave-hibernating species.

Key Facts

White-nose syndrome is caused by the fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans, introduced from Europe
More than 6.7 million bats have died from the disease in North America since 2006
Affected bats wake repeatedly during hibernation, depleting fat reserves and causing starvation
Some bat species have declined by over 90 percent in affected regions
Probiotic and antifungal treatments are in development as potential population-level interventions

Welfare Considerations

Bats dying from white-nose syndrome experience prolonged suffering during hibernation. The fungal infection disrupts their skin and triggers premature arousal from torpor. Bats that should be conserving energy through winter instead burn through their fat reserves, eventually emerging from caves emaciated in midwinter when there are no insects to eat. The individual welfare harm is compounded by the scale: millions of bats experiencing this fate across hundreds of cave systems. The ecological consequences extend to insect population dynamics and the agricultural pest control services that bat populations provide. Research into microbial interventions that can be applied to cave environments offers a potential welfare and conservation solution.

What You Can Do

Support white-nose syndrome research organisations developing treatment interventions
Decontaminate clothing and equipment before entering bat caves to prevent fungal spread
Provide bat boxes in your garden to support species that do not rely on caves
Participate in local bat monitoring programmes that track population recovery