White-nose syndrome, caused by the fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans, has devastated North American bat populations and poses a potential future threat to UK species.
White-nose syndrome causes a prolonged, distressing death through repeated premature arousal from hibernation, depleting fat reserves until bats die of starvation and hypothermia. The welfare impact on North American populations has been catastrophic. While European bat populations show apparent resistance, continued surveillance and biosecurity remain essential to prevent emergence of pathogenic strains in UK populations. The welfare implications of a North American-style outbreak in UK bats would be severe given the small population sizes and ecological importance of our bat species.