Wildlife

Bat Conservation and White-Nose Syndrome

White-nose syndrome has killed over 90% of some North American bat species, causing mass die-offs with severe ecological and welfare consequences.

Key Facts

White-nose syndrome has killed an estimated 6.7 million bats since 2006
The fungal pathogen Pseudogymnoascus destructans originated in Europe
Little brown bats have declined by 90% or more in affected regions
Bats hibernating in caves are most vulnerable to the disease
A single little brown bat consumes up to 1,000 insects per night
Loss of bats has been estimated to cost US agriculture over 3 billion dollars annually

Welfare Considerations

White-nose syndrome causes bats to rouse repeatedly during hibernation, depleting fat reserves needed for winter survival. Infected bats emerge prematurely in winter and die of starvation and exposure in large numbers. The fungal infection causes skin damage and wing membrane erosion that impairs flight and thermoregulation. The slow death from starvation while other bats around them die represents significant individual suffering scaled to millions of animals.

What You Can Do

Never disturb hibernating bats in caves or mines
Support cave closure programs that protect hibernating bat colonies
Donate to bat conservation organizations funding disease research
Install bat boxes to provide summer roosting habitat
Reduce pesticide use to preserve insect food sources for recovering populations
Advocate for funding of probiotic and vaccine research against white-nose syndrome