Disease (White-nose syndrome)

White-nose syndrome is a deadly fungal disease affecting hibernating bats, caused by the fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans. It thrives in cold, humid caves or mines, where bats hibernate. The fungus grows on their noses, wings, and other body parts, disrupting normal hibernation patterns. Infected bats wake up more often, depleting their fat reserves needed for winter survival, leading to starvation and death. Since its discovery in 2006, it has rapidly spread across North America, causing significant declines in bat populations and threatening ecological balance due to bats' role in insect control.