Close up and personal with a bat

Bats have more to fear from us than we ever do from them. White Nose Syndrome has killed over 8 million bats since 2006. Discovered in a cave in Albany, New York in 2006; the fungus that causes WNS was brought over from Europe by a human who didn't bother to decontaminate their caving equipment. Since 2006 WNS has spread pretty much all over the US and five Canadian providences. White-nose syndrome (WNS) predominantly affects hibernating bats. More than half of the 47 bat species living in the United States and Canada rely on hibernation for winter survival. Currently, 12 bat species, including two endangered species and one threatened species, have been confirmed with white-nose syndrome in North America. The causative fungus, Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd), has been found on an additional eight species (including two endangered species) without confirmation of the disease.